Napoli Napoli Napoli

As one of the most quoted contemporary names in fashion publications, British photographer Brett Lloyd never ceased to express his fondness for Naples in his photography. He compiles his affection for Naples in his new book “Napoli Napoli Napoli“.

Born in the north of England, Lloyd spends most of his time in Italy, particularly in Naples, a city he fell in love with and has been visiting regularly for twelve years. It is to this city that Lloyd dedicates the book, which recounts ‘a day in Naples’, an excursion from dawn to dusk that meditates on classicism, the cathartic power of the sea and the unique influence of the ancient landscape.

Coinciding with the book launch, Lloyd held an exhibition in Paris during ‘Paris Photo’ – Paris’ answer to photography week on November 10th, 2022. Another exhibition will take place in Spazio Maiocchi in Milan on November 17th from 9 am to 5 pm (according to the space’s opening hours). Lloyd will also be launching specially designed t-shirts to promote local businesses, 100% of the proceeds of which will go to support the non-profit organisation ‘Friends of Naples’ for the restoration of the city’s historic structures. The t-shirts will be made by the Naples design team Vienmnsuonno1926.

To understand the backstory of the book and his creativity, CAP 74024 invited Berlin-based PR office Reference Studios to have a talk with Brett Lloyd, which Lloyd talked about his discoveries, experiences,  creativity and ties to his beloved Naples.

Why napoli? Or better, how did you discover napoli and what brought you there for the first time?

It was 12 years ago, on my way to visit a friend who lived in Sorrento. I arrived late into the city and missed my last connecting train to the Amalfi coast so I was stuck in this city I had not been to before. I wandered into the historical center through Porta Nolana. Discovering the city for the first time at night. It was very impactful. The infrequent yellow lights brought shapes out of the walls and alleyways, it was a dream. I had left by mistake my passport in Rome so no hotel would accept me as a guest that night but I was more than. I was happy to spend my first night in Naples walking around exploring until the following morning, after that night I was hooked for a lifetime.

Which reasons made you go back there so often for so long?
The list is endless, I think the chief reason could be the calm I feel being surrounded by the chaotic beach life in Naples. In a great crowd and bustle I feel tranquil and solitary than on other occasions and really manage to relax. You have the ocean, the volcano, the roman ruins, the vistas. You need only to walk along the foreshore, and keep the eyes wide open, to see the most unequaled scenes. I have been going for 12 years now and you would expect some sense of complacency but there is none. Each day I see something so remarkable I think it’s impossible to see more. Always something new, some fresh absurdity.

As pretty much all southern italy, napoli can be very warm and welcoming but also exactly the opposite; what was your experience in this sense?

It’s for this reason that it is magic. It reminds me a lot of my upbringing in a working class town in Yorkshire, a poor town with great warmth but a lot of worry, a great amount of cares and concerns. My book is only a slice of Neapolitan life. I focus on life by the water, the beaches and the time in Most people’s day when they can relax and unwind. The cathartic power of the sea. Naples has far too long been documented only on the harsher realities that exist there, and although. Yes it’s a part of the culture since it’s a relatively poor city, it should not be the only vision that’s presented to the world. I hope my book can shift some of those preconceptions.

What are the main changes you saw in the city throughout the past 12 years?

Not much thank goodness, it is not a city that changes, hallelujah. One great thing is the money spent in the city recently on the restoration of the cultural landmarks in preserving them. Restoring the damaged churches and historical landmarks for future generations to enjoy.  I have collaborated with one of the charities in the city “Friends of Naples” who do just that, I have made four t shirts that Celebrate four of my favorite businesses, all proceeds of the sales go to the charity.

How did Napoli impact your artistic production?

The book was photographed over four summers, starting in 2018. It was refreshing to take my time, great to work on a project that would be ready when it’s ready. Coming from the fashion photography industry we are used to tight deadlines. This was the opposite. Pasquale Nappi became my muse who I would shoot each Summer, we would work on images together, some spontaneous as we were having a day on the rocks whilst others such as with the golden face portrait we would plan in advance. My limited Neapolitan meant that a lot of the portraits were achieved with little to no dialogue between us, so the beauty in those shots for me are the peoples own creative input, their instinctive posing and glances at the camera. Full of soul. I am an obsessive of archaeology and ancient history,  I’m in my element along the bay of Naples. From the ancient baths at Baia, along Posillipo to Pompei and even Paestum, it was a joy to learn and  develop my technique of landscapes and still life, just me, my Rolleifelx  and the ancient Roman and ~Greek fragments of those civilisations.