Private Project

Perspectives on Marble

Once revered mainly for its cultural significance, Carrara marble has now become a global commodity, with more than two-thirds of its output ground into powder for everyday products.
"Perspectives of Marble" observes the journey of the stone from its origins in the quarries to its presence in the urban landscapes of Carrara, showcasing a profound fascination for marble, evident in cities like Florence and Pisa. Concluding at a factory, where the stone undergoes a transformation process, becoming the ubiquitous marble dust that now permeates our daily lives.

  • Lilot Kammermeier
    Director
  • Lilot Kammermeier
    Director of Photography
  • Lilot Kammermeier
    Editor
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    17 minutes 48 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 12, 2024
  • Country of Origin:
    Germany
  • Country of Filming:
    Italy
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Lilot Kammermeier

Lilot Kammermeier is a Berlin based filmmaker and multidisciplinary designer. She studied Visual Communication at HGB Leipzig and ZHdK Zürich. In her practice she combines the influences of her expertise in filmmaking, graphic design and geography and explores the interaction between society and ecological phenomena. Her short documentary film Perspectives on Marble (2024) examines the diverse influence of human activity on the extraction and usage of marble.

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Director Statement

Why do we initially associate marble with luxury and value, even though its primary use now lies in everyday consumer goods that receive little to no attention or appreciation, despite being made from the same material? The theme of hidden resources forming the beginning of globally interconnected value chains is not new, but the contrast between what we, influenced by art and cultural history, initially associate with marble and where it is actually predominantly found as powder, inspired me to make the film.
While the sound suggests an unsettling vibration in the background, blending into a tapestry of voices and footsteps in city shots, I became an invisible observer, seamlessly blending into the surroundings, shooting with my iPhone without disrupting the authenticity of the scenes. I embarked on a journey to Carrara in Tuscany, one of the world's largest marble quarrying areas, exploring the material from various angles. Starting from its origin in the Apuan Alps, I traced its journey through the mining region, observing its processing stages. The town itself was once economically robust but has struggled with high unemployment since the relocation of marble processing industries, evident in its decaying marble-drenched cityscape. In Florence and Pisa, I explored the cultural and political significance of marble, juxtaposing grand architectural marvels with the harsh realities of its extraction. The journey concludes at a factory where stone remnants are transformed into powder, offering a glimpse into the global impact of marble production hidden within everyday items — once a symbol of opulence, now relegated to the status of an overlooked commodity.