Altera Italia is a photographic project that explores the ritual culture of Southern Italy: it is a journey across both geography and time in search of the origins and meanings of celebrations that have shaped the identity of the South.

It is a visual and anthropological project that seeks to reconsider the cultural identity of Southern Italy.

During the Neorealist period, Southern Italy, the artist's place of origin, was extensively documented by anthropologists, filmmakers and photographers whose research fostered the perception of an archaic and primitive society, contributing to the emergence of enduring social stereotypes.

Combining historical archive materials and photographs produced by the artist, the project invites the viewers to engage with images depicting part of a vast ritual heritage remains alive today.

The imagery created is intentionally evocative rather than descriptive.

To this end, the photographs are altered through analogue and digital manipulation techniques, drawing the viewer to a re-enchanted, immersive, sensory and spiritual universe.

Altera Italia stages the complexity of a culture that has consciously relied on the unifying power of ritual events. Even today, in an increasingly connected yet less communal contemporary world, these rituals continue to make life magical and celebratory, serving as essential amulets which people inhabit and make sense of their existence.

Designed, published and exhibited in recent years under the title Parallel EyesDesigned, published and exhibited in recent years under the title Parallel Eyes, the project now takes on the name Altera Italia for its book form, adopting a title and a language – Latin – that fully reflects the the project’s decolonial aspirations. Altera Italia or its book form, adopting a title and a language – Latin – that fully reflects the the project’s decolonial aspirations.

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The exhibition presents the project selected through LYRA, the open call dedicated to research in the fields of contemporary arts and visual culture promoted by Ulteriore. The exhibition is organised in collaboration with the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Reggio Calabria.

Alessia Rollo is a visual artist born in 1982 in Southern Italy, where she lives and works.

After graduating in Visual Communication from the University of Perugia, she completed a Master's degree in Creative Photography at EFTI in Madrid in 2009.

Her projects focus on the Mediterranean region with the aime of developing contemporary visual narratives that offer new perspectives on this area. Her practice is often driven by a desire to expand the sense of community through the reappropriation of stories, memories and visual materials.

Her work has been exhibited internationally in numerous solo and group exhibitions at museums, foundations and galleries, and has been featured in several monographic publications. She has been selected for international residencies and projects in Italy, Ethiopia, France, Mexico and other countries.