“Their children, 12- or 13-year-old boys, acted as couriers: they had learned that, by riding their bicycles near the station, they should stop and warn the scattered soldiers, just off the trains, not to take a certain road where they might encounter fascists or patrolling Germans. Better yet, they would have the soldiers follow them, guiding them safely to a sheltering home. At checkpoints, they signaled when the path was clear to proceed.”

Le pietre raccontano, Olimpia Nuzzi

The work, inspired by the precious testimonies of those who lived through the war here, invites the audience to immerse themselves in the role of the children who lived in La Popolarissima and acted as couriers during the Resistance. While pedaling, the audience illuminates a neon sign that highlights the tangible connection between historical memory and present-day social justice.

The phrase on the sign comes from the account of a real event. Following a report, one of the inhabitants was executed for expressing his opinion and dissociating himself from the fascist party.

In the historical context we live in, the installation urges both individual and collective responsibility and a stance against contemporary injustices.

Thank you to Gianni, Silvia, and Romano for sharing their childhood memories; thank you to Grazia and to all the residents of the Popolarissima who welcome my installation into their homes.

Thank you to Chiara from Collettiva Trasforma, and to Massimo, Marco, and Cristina for their time, energy, and technical support.