Raiders & Dreamers
Raiders & Dreamers exhibition project. Location: Unlock, Hackney Wick Photography: Mario Guarino March 2024 The exhibition showcases two of Mario Guarino’s works: I Am Gomorrah (Naples,Italy 2008) and Dreamers (London, UK 2014) for the first time grouped together in a project aimed at highlighting the common ground from which both series of portraits stems: an inward journey in the lives and personalities of people striving to escape or rather overcome their adverse circumstances from different starting points. I am Gomorrah is a photography project designed and executed in collaboration with film Director Guido Lombardi and Producer Gaetano di Vaio that portrays some of the original cast of the movie Gomorrah (by Matteo Garrone, 2008) where the actors (cast from the inmates of infamous Neapolitan penitentiary Poggioreale) were invited to sit for a series of portraits shot during one to one conversations with the Photographer. During the conversations Mario aimed at shooting his subject at what he thought was the emotional peaks of the accounts of their own life of crime, punishment and redemption. Fast forward a few years Mario turns his lens onto a group of boxers training at the Pedro Club in Clapton, East London founded by Super Middleweight British and European champion CBE James Cook who has devoted his life after the boxing years in setting up and running a gym that would take young people off the streets by giving them training and mentoring and a social hub where to congregate and develop their physical and mental skills. Dreamers features athletes of all ages (and their mentor) during a typical training session, a brutal routine of intensive physical exercises aimed at conditioning not just the physical body but the mind as well in developing discipline and resilience to face life challenges both inside and outside of a boxing ring. The title “Dreamers” may induce some viewers in thinking that it’s referred to the subjects as the dreamers of a future of glory and success but instead, perhaps covertly,alludes at that peculiar dreaming state of mind a boxer goes into when experiencing extreme stress and fatigue where his mind gradually turns inward to confront the first enemy of any fighter: the mind that postulates limits and erects barriers to any attempt of overcoming adverse conditions outside one’s comfort zone. Perhaps it’s worth to note that after the project Mario joined the “Dreamers” for about 5 years in pursuing that very same state of mind.
CARMINE
DI VAIO
Drug trafficking/ Actor
Edition of 10
Year: 2009
Material: Giclee print Size: 84.1 x 118.9 cm
Last time I fucked up was two years ago. I put three kilos of hashish in the boot of my car. I left Naples to travel North to try and sell it.
The Police stopped me, I didn’t even hide it, they simply opened the boot and found the drugs.
The worst part was that with me there was my partner and her little son and they took them in too as they said she couldn’t not know as the drugs weren’t hidden, but she truly didn’t.
At the time I had lost my job. I worked on the scaffoldings, I only dismounted them as mounting them is too complicated, you need skills.
It is what I always wanted to do when I was a kid, when I used to watch them rising high around the buildings. Now I am waiting to know wether I will go to jail, the hearing is in three months.
The idea of going to jail doesn’t bother me, I’m used to it, I settle in my cell, keep quiet, I even decorate it, hang some pictures, I keep it tidy.
CIRO PETRONE
“LIL’PEA”
Street vendor/ Actor, model
Edition of 10
Year: 2009
Material: Giclee print Size: 84,1 x 118.9 cm
I have always worked, since I was a kid. I wake up in the morning around
4 am and at 5 am me and my brothers are already at the vegetable market to collect the stock.
We live in Montesanto, in the heart of Naples, where we have greengrocers.
I finish work around 5pm, take a shower and go out. Since I have played in Gomorrah people recognize me in the streets, they stop me to take a picture together...it’s great, I can’t deny it, it’s great to be famous.
Let’s hope it will last, that one day to be an actor will be my trade, not selling veg.
A month ago I got called by Bruce Weber, the Photographer. He flew me to London and then New York. We took some pictures and a short video.
He has a studio and so many people working for him even more than I saw working on the set of Gomorrah. He really is a VIP. He took some fashion pictures. Nowadays beautiful boys are no longer in fashion, they need smart boys, street wise, good with girls not just with fashion.
Someone like me.
CARMINE
PATERNOSTER
Theft, robbery Actor
Edition of 10
Year: 2009
Material: Giclee print Size: 84,1 x 118.9 cm
I have done some ugly things, I don’t feel like talking about them right now. I have been in jail for these things I have done, I paid my debt.
I can tell you what I felt when I was doing them though: fear.
I couldn’t wait to get them over with, as fast as I could.
I had to do them cos’ I needed the money and this city, Naples, has got nothing to offer. There is no work.
When I was in jail I started to play, we did theatre workshops and when I came out I carried on outside.
Then Gomorrah came along and there I had to play the part of a good guy.
It’s not been hard, I just had to try and be a little more of a good guy than what I really am.
MARCO
MACOR
Theft, robbery Actor
Edition of 10
Year: 2009
Material: Giclee print Size: 84.1 x 118.9cm
Gomorrah hasn’t changed my life, even if I am still thankful that it happened to me. I had just been in jail, Poggioreale penitentiary, for robbery.
When I came out Maurizio Bracci (Gomorrah scriptwriter) offered me an audition. Garrone (the director) wanted me to read the script but I told him that I knew what needed to be said. I told him “don’t worry, just roll the camera and I’ll do the rest” and so it was.
Now people stop me in the street. The other day I was with my son and a girl stopped me and told me “you’re great!”. I blushed, thanked her, but when she asked to take a picture with me I said I had to go somewhere but I would be back. I disappeared, I got too shy.
Gomorrah has been fantastic, the most beautiful thing in my life after my son and my wife. My wife is young, she’s 16, still a little girl and my son is almost 1, I live for them.
In the morning I get up at 5am, I grab a sandwich and go to work, I’m a brick layer. I finish around 5 then I go to work with an uncle of mine for another couple of hours also as a brick layer. 30 Euros a day. If I’d manage to be an actor it would be a break in my life, but I know I still have to learn a lot, I’d need to go to school, but then who would bring the money home?
GAETANO
DI VAIO
Drug trafficking, robbery/ Actor, producer, writer
Edition of 10
Year: 2009
Material: Giclee print Size: 84,1 x 118.9 cm
... From behind the gates of Naples’ main prison complex ‘Poggioreale’ I could hear cries and loud shouting, I couldn’t understand anything, one can only guess that it was mayhem.
I smile, imagining that the world outside protests for my release, the gangster Gaetano Di Vaio, aka lil’Star. They don’t know I’ve changed yet.
I look around me: there are quite a lot of us being released today, it looks almost like an amnesty. I recognise six of them, but the other thirty or so I’ve never met before.
They don’t have the faces of old jail birds, they look mostly like bricklayers, carpenters, factory workers. Surely from the ‘Genoa’ wing, where they put those jailed for the very first time.
“You, you...and you...”
The guard points at me and the other six that I more or less know.
He’s chosen the ones that look like crooks, that’s enough to recognise us.
“You come and wait on this side, the others go out first.”
As soon as they open the gate and the first ‘worker’ puts their face outside the door, there’s a cry like at the stadium. Me and the other six, tight in a corner, watch them parade out one by one.
Every time one gets out you can hear the same loud cry.
Once the workers or whatever they are, have all gone out, it’s our turn, the real crooks.
There’s a guy before me, then I’m finally out.
FREEDOM FOR THE WORKERS!!!
It’s written with red spray paint on a massive banner outside the prison entry.
There was a sea of people, hugging the ones that just got out, their comrades, tears streaming from their eyes. By their conversations I understand that they were arrested three days before, during the March protest.
To wait for me there’s only my wife, my son and my mother. While they hug me I look around me: These guys who have done three days inside just because they’ve taken to the streets to ask for work, simply for the right to work, have faces different from mine. The faces of their family and friends are different from those that are now hugging me.
They cry and shout in happiness like those who have gone through a bad time and know that it’s now over.
My wife and mother are silent in their joy. With no tears.
I too am happy: it’s over, I’m out. Yet, one thought overshadows the happiness of the moment:
My face will still be the one of a crook.
DAVIDE
Drug related offences Actor
Edition of 10
Year: 2009
Material: Giclee print Size: 84,1 x 118.9 cm
What can I say to you, what I have seen in jail, what I have seen at Poggioreale (Naples prison). In jail there is violence, the guards beat up the inmates. Since forever. They still do it to this day, as we speak.
Once I woke up feeling really bad, I asked to be sent to the infirmary, there was a doctor, sitting at his desk, I told him I was really ill, that I was very weak.
He looked at me from behind his desk, without even moving and said: Take this pill.
I told him”excuse me but you haven’t even examined me, you haven’t even asked me how I feel, how can you say that I have to take this pill rather than another?”
Then he turns to a guard and says “he doesn’t want any pill take him back to his cell.”
I protest, but the guard drags me out, calls another guard and together they take me into a cubicle at the end of the corridor.
Inside there were another four guards laying against the wall waiting. I understand what is going to happen.
I ask them “how can you do this to me? I am ill, I have the right to be assisted and instead you are going to beat me.”
But it didn’t help.
After they were done with me, I was lying on the floor badly beaten, I saw the Director of the jail, a woman, she looked at me, turned the other way and walked on...
How can you have such a cold heart like that?
ENZO
“PITBULL”
Armed robbery/ Actor
Edition of 10
Year: 2009
Material: Giclee print Size: 84,1 x 118.9 cm
I was 13 when they shot me in the back. At 13 I was already quite big, didn’t seem I was that age.
Some people asked me if I wanted to take part in a bank robbery, I didn’t know much at the time, didn’t realise what it was, they told me it was an easy job, I only had to scare people. To do that they put a machine gun in my hands.
I had never shot a gun before, I didn’t know how to use it.
We walked into the post office and robbed it at gun point but as we got out, there were police everywhere, waiting for us, pointing their guns.
It was supposed to be an easy job...when I saw them I freaked out and started shooting.
I don’t remember pressing the trigger, it’s like that thing started shooting on its own...it was shooting in all directions, I had to throw it to the floor to make it stop and then I ran.
I only made it a couple of metres when a bullet hit me in the back, after that I don’t remember anything, I lost consciousness.
Luckily I met a good judge, he understood I didn’t know what I was doing, I was only 13.
A friend of mine was not that lucky... the three of us tried to steal a motorbike at gun point, but we had such bad luck. The guy on the motorbike was a policeman.
He told us to go away, that he was a police officer, and as we left he pulled out his gun and shot my friend. He fell down in a pool of blood.
The other friend of mine tried to stop the cars in the street to get help,
but maybe in shock, he still had his gun in his hand and nobody would stop.
At the end he called the police himself, but when they finally arrived, they worried more about making the arrest than about my mate on the ground, he died on the way to hospital.
All that is over for me now, I don’t want that life anymore. It brings only tragedy. Now I want to be an actor, like in Gomorrah.
In Gomorrah I kill a woman. It’s great to commit crimes without having to do the time, just for fiction.
SALVATORE
STRIANO
Organised crime associate Actor
Edition of 10
Year: 2009
Material: Giclee print Size: 84.1 x 118.9 cm
I want to make one thing clear:
I am an actor now. I am no longer a criminal.
I paid what I had to pay. I am rehabilitated now. I did my ten years, robbery, criminal association, illegal possession of fire arms, I paid for all that.
Now I wanna play.
I started right in jail, with theatre workshop. Theatre helped me a lot during my time inside, it made me live life that was different from mine, made of violence and jail time. It was a way to break out of jail.
How did I get in? They got me in Spain where I was hiding. I have been hiding in Spain for three years.
I still remember how I left the airport in Rome.
I was with my wife, I had a fake passport, I put my picture on it, but it didn’t have the stamp. Wanna know what I did?
I went into a bar and got a coffee cup, I marked the bottom of the cup with ink and pressed it on the passport. It turned out crap, I didn’t trust passing check-in with that.
So when I got to the airport I went straight to two policemen standing there and asked them to help as it was the first time I was taking a flight and didn’t know where to go or what to do.
They were very kind, barely checked my passport and took me straight to the other side.
One evening in Spain I took my wife to a restaurant to celebrate her birthday, about 20 gangsters walk in, all fugitives like me. They were just from another family.
We had just finished our dinner and paid the bill, we were almost about to get up and leave. But I didn’t move. They recognised me, just like I did them.
We could not go out, as I was afraid that something could happen to them after we left. Suppose a rival killer walked in after I had left and shot them... they would think I blew the whistle.
So after ten minutes I was there just waiting for them to end their meal, one of the capi came up to me and said that I could go if I wanted to, they knew I was not a traitor.
I replied that it was no bother, after all we were in good company. We smiled at each other and that was the end of it.
That was my life before now.
Dreamers Series
Edition of 10
Year: 2012
Shot on: Kodak film 120
Material: Giclee print on photo rag pearl paper
Size: 84.1 x 118.9 cm
The "Dreamers" Series was shot in London in 2012 in collaboration with two local gyms: the Boxing Academy and Pedro Club, both in Hackney. It portrays a mix of amateurs and professional boxers during their routine training.
Usually a session lasts for a couple of hours three times a week and it's based on constant repetitions of cardio and muscles toning exercises aimed at conditioning body and mind to endure fatigue and overcome pain on the ring.
Boxing remains one of the most complete sports in terms of muscular and stamina stimulation as well as mental engagement.
All the portraits in both series, "I am Gomorrah" and "Dreamers" have been shot on medium format camera (6x7) using Kodak Portra 160 and Tmax 100 films.
The prints are made on Hahnemhule Photo Rag ("I am Gomorrah") and Photo Rag Pearl ("Dreamers").
Dreamers Series
Edition of 10 Year: 2012 Shot on: Kodak film 120 Material: Giclee print on photo rag pearl paper Size: 84.1 x 118.9 cm
The "Dreamers" Series was shot in London in 2012 in collaboration with two local gyms: the Boxing Academy and Pedro Club, both in Hackney. It portrays a mix of amateurs and professional boxers during their routine training.
Usually a session lasts for a couple of hours three times a week and it's based on constant repetitions of cardio and muscles toning exercises aimed at conditioning body and mind to endure fatigue and overcome pain on the ring.
Boxing remains one of the most complete sports in terms of muscular and stamina stimulation as well as mental engagement.
All the portraits in both series, "I am Gomorrah" and "Dreamers" have been shot on medium format camera (6x7) using Kodak Portra 160 and Tmax 100 films.
The prints are made on Hahnemhule Photo Rag ("I am Gomorrah") and Photo Rag Pearl ("Dreamers").
Dreamers Series
Edition of 10 Year: 2012
Shot on: Kodak film 120
Material: Giclee print on photo rag pearl paper
Size: 84.1 x 118.9 cm
The "Dreamers" Series was shot in London in 2012 in collaboration with two local gyms: the Boxing Academy and Pedro Club, both in Hackney. It portrays a mix of amateurs and professional boxers during their routine training.
Usually a session lasts for a couple of hours three times a week and it's based on constant repetitions of cardio and muscles toning exercises aimed at conditioning body and mind to endure fatigue and overcome pain on the ring.
Boxing remains one of the most complete sports in terms of muscular and stamina stimulation as well as mental engagement.
All the portraits in both series, "I am Gomorrah" and "Dreamers" have been shot on medium format camera (6x7) using Kodak Portra 160 and Tmax 100 films.
The prints are made on Hahnemhule Photo Rag ("I am Gomorrah") and Photo Rag Pearl ("Dreamers").
Dreamers Series
Edition of 10 Year: 2012
Shot on: Kodak film 120
Material: Giclee print on photo rag pearl paper
Size: 84.1 x 118.9 cm
The "Dreamers" Series was shot in London in 2012 in collaboration with two local gyms: the Boxing Academy and Pedro Club, both in Hackney. It portrays a mix of amateurs and professional boxers during their routine training.
Usually a session lasts for a couple of hours three times a week and it's based on constant repetitions of cardio and muscles toning exercises aimed at conditioning body and mind to endure fatigue and overcome pain on the ring.
Boxing remains one of the most complete sports in terms of muscular and stamina stimulation as well as mental engagement.
All the portraits in both series, "I am Gomorrah" and "Dreamers" have been shot on medium format camera (6x7) using Kodak Portra 160 and Tmax 100 films.
The prints are made on Hahnemhule Photo Rag ("I am Gomorrah") and Photo Rag Pearl ("Dreamers").
Dreamers Series
Edition of 10 Year: 2012
Shot on: Kodak film 120
Material: Giclee print on photo rag pearl paper
Size: 84.1 x 118.9 cm
The "Dreamers" Series was shot in London in 2012 in collaboration with two local gyms: the Boxing Academy and Pedro Club, both in Hackney. It portrays a mix of amateurs and professional boxers during their routine training.
Usually a session lasts for a couple of hours three times a week and it's based on constant repetitions of cardio and muscles toning exercises aimed at conditioning body and mind to endure fatigue and overcome pain on the ring.
Boxing remains one of the most complete sports in terms of muscular and stamina stimulation as well as mental engagement.
All the portraits in both series, "I am Gomorrah" and "Dreamers" have been shot on medium format camera (6x7) using Kodak Portra 160 and Tmax 100 films.
The prints are made on Hahnemhule Photo Rag ("I am Gomorrah") and Photo Rag Pearl ("Dreamers").
Dreamers Series
Edition of 10 Year: 2012
Shot on: Kodak film 120
Material: Giclee print on photo rag pearl paper
Size: 84.1 x 118.9 cm
The "Dreamers" Series was shot in London in 2012 in collaboration with two local gyms: the Boxing Academy and Pedro Club, both in Hackney. It portrays a mix of amateurs and professional boxers during their routine training.
Usually a session lasts for a couple of hours three times a week and it's based on constant repetitions of cardio and muscles toning exercises aimed at conditioning body and mind to endure fatigue and overcome pain on the ring.
Boxing remains one of the most complete sports in terms of muscular and stamina stimulation as well as mental engagement.
All the portraits in both series, "I am Gomorrah" and "Dreamers" have been shot on medium format camera (6x7) using Kodak Portra 160 and Tmax 100 films.
The prints are made on Hahnemhule Photo Rag ("I am Gomorrah") and Photo Rag Pearl ("Dreamers").
Dreamers Series
Edition of 10 Year: 2012
Shot on: Kodak film 120
Material: Giclee print on photo rag pearl paper
Size: 84.1 x 118.9 cm
The "Dreamers" Series was shot in London in 2012 in collaboration with two local gyms: the Boxing Academy and Pedro Club, both in Hackney. It portrays a mix of amateurs and professional boxers during their routine training.
Usually a session lasts for a couple of hours three times a week and it's based on constant repetitions of cardio and muscles toning exercises aimed at conditioning body and mind to endure fatigue and overcome pain on the ring.
Boxing remains one of the most complete sports in terms of muscular and stamina stimulation as well as mental engagement.
All the portraits in both series, "I am Gomorrah" and "Dreamers" have been shot on medium format camera (6x7) using Kodak Portra 160 and Tmax 100 films.
The prints are made on Hahnemhule Photo Rag ("I am Gomorrah") and Photo Rag Pearl ("Dreamers").