honorable mention
Olivija Douris italy
title
Ghost house
When I stumbled upon it for the first time I could hardly believe that an important institution like that would be left completely open, not protected, with rooms filled with objects that gradually disappeared with time revealing more and more the skeleton of the complex. The patients’ files collecting dust, medical histories, bills, all sorts of private information exposed to all. Mostly though, I was attracted to the space because it reminded me of a not lasting nature of everything that there is. It reminded me of a still life” vanitas” painting only in three dimensional form, where left behind, decaying objects and structures embody symbols of fragility and transient nature of our lives and experiences.
Design in Philadelphia, USA. After transferring to New York she
continued with her professional career, working for International Architecture
companies and in her free time attending various photography workshops.
After ten years spent in the US she moved to Italy, where she is
currently living and working.
back to gallery
entry description
The empty alleys with sleepy benches and an abandoned building complex in a sea of tall grass – it is all that is left from once famous resort hospital by the sea “Ospedale al Mare” in Lido, Venice. The ghost like crawling down structures ,even after 10 years after its evacuation, still bear witness to the lives that once where part of it. Patient's medical charts, ribbons of cardiogram test results, blood samples with a tint of scarlet red, boxes with bursting out medicine, are still to be found behind the open doors. Rooms with a view to the sea decorated with colorful peeling paint patterns, a mysterious gaze of unknown woman, theatre with empty seats, books with an open page for you to read, await anyone daring to step inside. The airy lingering feeling is of small town whose inhabitants fled in a hurry leaving the threads of their lives behind. The Hospital “Ospedale al Mare” was bought in 2010 and since then faces a controversial development project with any progress in view.When I stumbled upon it for the first time I could hardly believe that an important institution like that would be left completely open, not protected, with rooms filled with objects that gradually disappeared with time revealing more and more the skeleton of the complex. The patients’ files collecting dust, medical histories, bills, all sorts of private information exposed to all. Mostly though, I was attracted to the space because it reminded me of a not lasting nature of everything that there is. It reminded me of a still life” vanitas” painting only in three dimensional form, where left behind, decaying objects and structures embody symbols of fragility and transient nature of our lives and experiences.
about the photographer
Olivija Douris was born in Lithuania and received her Bachelors degree inDesign in Philadelphia, USA. After transferring to New York she
continued with her professional career, working for International Architecture
companies and in her free time attending various photography workshops.
After ten years spent in the US she moved to Italy, where she is
currently living and working.
back to gallery