The work centres on his father’s involvement with the Italian Montedison factory in 1963, the year his colleague Giulio Natta shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for discoveries in the chemistry and technology of high polymers, including his work on polypropylene—now one of the world’s most widely used plastics. Moving across the material’s role in medical technologies, workers’ health and cultural life, the work uses puppetry to examine its environmental, pathological, legal and domestic effects across northern Italy.
The live version of the puppet show is proposed for children in Ferrara, introducing them to the corporate history of capitalism in their region. The three puppets created for the work were gifted to Vittorio Zanella and are currently displayed in his puppet museum in Bologna, Italy.
Story | Vittorio Zanella
Marionette Design | Ree Bradley and Tony Sinnett
Marionette Construction | Tony Sinnett
Puppeteers | Raven Kaliana, Tony Sinnett and Richard Sinnett
Voice-over | Saverio Buono, Carlotta Sofia Grassi and Ree Bradley
Cinematography | Marlon Rouse Tavares
Translation and Transcription | Angelica Bollettinari, Giorgia Chiaron, Carlotta Sofia Grassi, Francesco Pavignano and Tommi Valli
Curatorial Support | Carlotta Clerici and Giulia Perucci
Supported by | Resina, Ferrara, Italy; Salt Project Collective, Turin, Italy; PS2, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
Special Thanks | Ed Berriman, Lizzie Berriman, Ben Bradley, Angelica Bollettinari, Giorgia Chiaron, Carlotta Sofia Grassi, Flavia Franceschini and Vannie Franceschini, Vittorio Zanella and Rita Zanella