The Iron Age by Giulio Ielardi, curated by Francesco Zizola (Yogurt Editions), is being released, an editorial project that combines art and sustainability, desired and commissioned by Gruppo Fiori.
The book narrates, through the powerful lens of conceptual photography, the reality of the Group, one of the leading national entities in the field of recovery and recycling of ferrous and non-ferrous materials.
Ielardi’s work becomes a narrative tool to illustrate the urgency of a new awareness on the topic of the circular economy, an essential model for a more responsible future.
The key concept is transformation. Metal waste, now devoid of its original function, is fragmented in Gruppo Fiori’s plants and brought almost back to the state of primordial elements. This virtuous industrial cycle transforms them into high-quality secondary raw materials (iron, steel, copper, aluminum), replacing primary resources and embodying the concept of an urban mine.
Through images that play on the ambiguity between traces of reality and inventions of the future, the artist frees metals from their use value, revealing the beauty and value contained in the material and in the recycling industry itself.
Ielardi’s project is not just an aesthetic expression, but an invitation to reflect on one’s role and the impact of individual choices.
Thus, art becomes a catalyst for change, contributing to spreading environmentally correct values and behaviors for a sustainable society.
The photographs were taken at Gruppo Fiori’s facilities in Rome (Santa Palomba) and Bologna (Valsamoggia).
Published by Yogurt Editions
BookDesign: Melissa Pallini
Art Director: Francesco Zizola
Printed by Grafiche Veneziane, Venice
