"La stretta" is one of the lamps from the project "REBOOT"*, which comprehends the other 4 lamps submitted for the Prize.
The shape of this perfectly fits around the rock in the picture, for this reason we called it "La Stretta" which translates in "The Grasp". The lamp seems to tightly hug the rock, as a gesture of comforting and reassuring.
This lamp has two nautical brass lamps and a wide range of wooden sticks.
*"Reboot" is a project realized in 2021 by Ludovica Cesaretti and Gabriele Paolo Alfredo Brambilla during an art residency at "AllaDeriva11", in Sardinia Italy. Ludovica is one of the founders of the residency and for this particular project decided to directly collaborate with the artist during the three weeks residency.
The project was initially developed around a collection of old brass nautical lamps donated to Ludovica by a close family friend, that wanted to dispose of them. The two artists decided to research for characteristic natural elements from Sardinia, in the respect of the environment, and came across a selection of wooden sticks, smoothened by the sea, collected in the past years from the Sardinian beaches, by a local resident of the town and no more utilized.
Following the collection of these preowned materials, thanks to Gabriele's experience in lamp crafting and knowledge in creating electrical circuits, the project was further developed in the final pieces.
The project aims to reflect on the impact humans have on the environment, moreover on the Sardinian environment.
Plastic is frequently found in these areas, where collecting sand, rocks, and shells is now illegal. Humans tend to abuse the areas, collecting elements, taking from them, and, in return, just leaving unnatural and unhealthy elements for the environment, such as plastic bottles, flip-flops, remains of cigarettes, and so on.
The photos of the lamps were taken in two different locations.
The first location is called "Capotesta", which is a panoramic peninsula located just a few km from the residency, AllaDeriva11. Here, the scenario is breathtaking due to the shapes of the rocks smoothened by the strong wind and the waves. Due to the desolation of Capotesta, this area has the appearance of a different planet. The photos were taken during sunrise, therefore the lamps either appear very vivid, through pale colors or are hit by an orange and extremely warm light.
The second location chosen for the photoshoot was the demolished interior of an AllaDeriva11 venue. Here, the photos were taken between debris and broken walls.
In both scenarios, the lamps truly resemble extraterrestrial marine monsters.
