‘The Perfect Tannery’ exhibition opens in Arzignano
27/10/2016
With the title ‘The Perfect Tannery’, the exhibition comprises images taken by two English photographers, Stuart Franklin and Mark Power, both of whom represent the Magnum Photos co-operative. The subject of their photographs is the tanning industry in the local area, one of the most important in Italy (and indeed the world) for leather production.
Eight of the Arzignano cluster’s most important tanneries worked with the photographers, giving them access to production areas. The eight tanneries that feature are Conceria Montebello, Rino Mastrotto Group, ICA, Gruppo Dani, Gruppo Mastrotto, Adelaide, Faeda and Bonaudo. The project also had the co-operation and support of local wastewater treatment plant operator Acque del Chiampo, and of Italy’s national tanning industry association, UNIC. Banca Intesa and the local authorities also lent support.
Mark Power spent seven days in the region, taking photographs in the eight tanneries, as well as at a chemical plant. He has contributed 35 previously unpublished images to the exhibition depicting the human as well as technological activity involved in making leather.
“I wanted to carry out a piece of work inspired by the tanneries rather than about the tanneries,” Mr Power said at the start of the exhibition. “I kept my distance from the leather-making process, using the artistic licence I was given, to concentrate on how that process can be translated into images that will last a long time.”
Local photographer Luca Peruzzi has also contributed photos to the exhibition, drawing a contrast between the way Arzignano looked in the 1970s and how it looks today. He has said that this comparison shows how much work has gone on in the last 40 years or so to decontaminate the area.
Share this story:
