N.098 - Partenopena

Federica Ferraro’s illustration is a raw and powerful portrayal of the city and its contradictions, a critical vision that merges traditional symbols with elements of decay, rebellion, and resistance. At the center stands Partenope, the ancient siren and symbol of the city. Holding a Napoli flag, she embodies passion and identity, while the balaclava she wears evokes a sense of popular rebellion against prejudice and stereotyped representations of Naples. Her pose recalls Liberty Leading the People by Delacroix, a classic image of uprising and justice. All around her, symbols of Neapolitan culture lie scattered like degraded remnants: worn, decaying objects that speak of a beauty consumed by neglect and stereotypes, forming a kind of cultural landfill. Promoted by the Napoli Tortura collective, the work is a message of resistance: the city is not just image and folklore, but a living, pulsing reality that refuses a destiny of abandonment.