On the occasion of the publication of The Enchanted Kingdom, we had a chat with Laura Capuano, illustrator which is part of the Stories from Naples. Check out the interview and the itinerary: immerse yourself in the wonders of Bacoli in the Campi Flegrei, follow some tips for young designers and learn more about the experience of creating an all-Neapolitan community.

The stages of the children's itinerary

The Underwater Park of Baia

Scrolling through the stories in the book, the story of fisherman Thomas jumps out at you. His hook gets caught in an amphora in the sea of Bay, a coastal resort about half an hour from Naples, where the most fascinating city Roman submerged Mediterranean, sunk due to the volcanic phenomenon of the bradyseism. For an unforgettable experience, book the excursion below sea level by boat: embarkation is from the port of Baia, via Molo di Baia, 20 in Bacoli, or if you are fond of diving,there are various routes available.

The enchanting Casina Vanvitelliana

The interviewee's favorite destination is a Bourbon hunting and fishing lodge, located in the waters of the Lake Fusaro. The building, designed by Luigi Vanvitelli, can be visited inside at a very low cost. By accessing the park of the same name, however, it is possible to admire this jewel on the lake and take great photos, beginner-proof!

Laura Capuano tells us how the book came about

"The Enchanted Kingdom. This is not the first anthology of short stories we have put together.  

It was certainly a novel idea for us to target the youngest children-a natural evolution of the path we started with their parents and grandparents. We decided to widen the network and simplify the communication tools to be able to reach children directly and clearly as well. "

"The idea probably came from some meetings we were lucky enough to organize in collaboration with schools: elementary school children were undoubtedly the most enthusiastic audience we had; the simplicity with which they got involved inspired us to create a project that would allow us to communicate with them directly."

"A large, full-color volume on a quality paper and glossy cover-it was a dream come true for me.

For the first time, illustrations stopped playing a purely accompanying, supporting function to the stories, but became protagonists. The type of drawing also had to adapt to the new requirements: do not be fooled by the apparent simplicity of children's illustrations.

Communicating an idea in a clear, direct and appealing way that is easily understood by even the youngest children is a real challenge that requires considerable skills in synthesis and simplification of concepts and storytelling."

What emotion does it stir to see little ones approach a guided tour of Naples inspired by the book?

"I remember not having a sense of how much the book had entered the hearts of children until I participated in the organized guided tour from Echo of the Sirens On the stages of our stories.

We were amazed when on that occasion we met a little girl, Matilde, who knew every detail of our fairy tales by heart, including - verbatim! - the recipe for macaroni with meat sauce, which, according to legend, is the result of an experiment in alchemy.

The strongest emotion, however, I felt at the time of farewells, when many children asked us for a picture together, or to write a dedication for them in books: the sincerity of that passion moved me deeply."

What are stories to you?  

"Stories for me, for us, are like the seams of a dress, or the embroidery of a tapestry. They hold together the image of a city that is not simple, but has a strong identity.

Each one follows the previous one and chases after the next, complementing and intertwining each other in a set of lights, shadows, colors, textures. cSome are legends, some are fairy tales, some are true stories. We are almost never given to know the precise boundary between what has been added over the centuries in word of mouth and what really happened: it is up to each person's sensibility to decide how far to believe."

Stories of Naples is a collective project. What is it like to collaborate with such diverse professionals?

"Of all the opportunities for growth that have been offered to me over time, I think this is by far the most valuable. I curated the illustration section of our website for four years, contributing personally and coordinating the work of other illustrators: this led me to having to compare with people Who share a common passion, a common goal.

This exchange has greatly enriched not only my own approach to art and illustration, but has taught me to carefully observe others' approaches as well.

The same is true when I relate to writers or photographers: these are different expressions of the same concept, love of art, love of the city. They are all new ways of looking toward the same subject, and it's been surprising to see how one can influence and inspire the other.

I have had the opportunity to discover crazy places that pass daily under our noses and whose value we do not understand until we are shown what eyes to look at them with. 

Dealing with so many different people, all creative in their own very personal ways, has opened up my horizons so much: everyone adds a personal touch in page management and problem solving, and together we are all a great machine.

Last but not least, there is no better excuse than an organizational meeting to all sit down over pizza."

How did your personal encounter with the Storie di Napoli community come about?

"In life I can say that I am anything but an illustrator. By profession I am a pharmacist, but a constant for me has always been the need to combine my artistic " self" with the rest of my life, which otherwise would be very "straight" and regular. I have always sought - and found - creative loopholes to everyday reality. As much as I was passionate about scientific studies and my curiosity drove me to delve into everything I studied, I always felt the need to infuse a dash of color into my days. 

For this reason, unaware of the importance this would have on the course of my life, in 2015 I took an opportunity that came to me as a request for help from an old friend. At the time, Storie di Napoli was small, but it already boasted several stories to its credit and was about to gather them into its first publication: a small, black-and-white paperback book. The printing budget was small, and the photographs that accompanied the stories on the website could not find justice on such a small page: the boys were forced to put out a call for those among their friends who had some passion for the pencil.

It was Federico who sought me out, "I remember you liked to draw in high school, do you still do it?": and that's how it started. I was uncertain whether to accept or not, at that time I hadn't touched a crayon for years, I was insecure and rusty to the point that anyone seemed more capable than me.

Eventually I gave it a try, and that was the first of many projects we did together."

What is the place you are most fond of and what was it like to draw drawing inspiration from Naples?

"It is difficult for me to prefer one. I am attached to many places, but perhaps the one that in my imagination takes on one of the most magical meanings is the Casina Vanvitelliana, on Lake Fusaro. I think it is the place that appears in my paintings and sketches most frequently: I painted it at sunset, in full morning light, in an evening glimpse.

It reminds me so much of the little house in the Blue Fairy at Pinocchio movie, that of the 1960s, and brings back that sense of fairy tale that Walt Disney sowed in every child of my generation. 

There will be no shortage of opportunities to illustrate it even more magically in the future: in my opinion, the trick for an illustration to convey a certain suggestion is to avoid dwelling too realistically and explicitly on details, but to suggest an idea and let the viewer's imagination do the rest."