Through an intimate visual narrative, this photographic project seeks to revive a nearly forgotten, mythical facet of the Aeolian Islands’ folkloric heritage: the fisherwomen of the volcanic waters. Rooted in personal family history and driven by a desire to challenge entrenched gender norms, "I sospiri di Diana” wishes to engage with the anthropological research of Macrina Marilena Maffei to reintroduce the resilient figures of the last known community of sea women.

Blending portraiture, metaphorical imagery and a contemporary lens, this photographic exploration draws from lived experience and memories woven into the landscape. It serves primarily as a tribute to the women who, until the early 20th century, stepped beyond domestic boundaries out of economic necessity to take on roles traditionally held by men. Alongside fathers, husbands and sons who couldn’t afford hired sailors, they ventured into dark waters, repaired nets, prepared boats, named winds, and read the stars. These women skillfully connected sea and land, shaping family and social structures through their cultural knowledge, environmental stewardship, and economic labor. Their roles reflected adaptability, resilience and a deep-rooted connection to place and nature. Against the dramatic backdrop of the Aeolian Islands - where tremors, fire, and sea coexist - they moved within a raw, elemental landscape.

Despite their significance, these women have rarely been recognized as a cultural resource, perhaps due to fears that acknowledging their role would symbolically feminize the sea and disrupt male-dominated maritime narratives. While their labor sustained local economies, their contributions were often sidelined to preserve traditional gender hierarchies. One cannot compel a community to remember, yet when the fisherwomen still speak, when living memory persists and when descendants carry pride in their lineage, that same community bears the responsibility of preserving the thread of remembrance.

Stromboli, 2024 - ongoing