Mostra fotografica "Eyewitness: guerre e pace" di Manoocher Deghati

The photographic exibhition Eyewitness: war and peace by Manoocher Deghati, inspired by this year’s edition of the Festival della Valle D’Itria “Wars and Peace” will open on Friday, 27 June at 7:00 p.m. in the historic centre of Martina Franca.

Thanks to the collaboration between the Fondazione Paolo Grassi, the local merchants from Piazza Roma and the Ringo area, and the Municipal Administration of Martina Franca, the exhibition winds through the streets of Martina Franca’s historic centre, representing 45 years of global history through 40 significant and powerful photographs taken by the great Iranian photojournalist.

As an internationally renowned photojournalist, Manoocher Deghati (resident in Martina Franca), has devoted his career to document the most crucial moments of our time, starting with the Iranian revolution of 1978 and the subsequent war with Iraq in his home country, Iran.

His photographs are not just images, but living witnesses of wars, conflicts, peace processes, moments of joy and celebration through art and music. Each shot invites us to reflect, feel and understand the complexity of our world.

Eyewitness: war and peace is a visual journey that takes us from battlefields to peace processes, from war-torn streets to squares in celebration of the many countries where Deghati has captured significant moments of history: Egypt, Kuwait, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Uganda, Kenya, Israel, Palestine, Sudan, France, Turkey, Nicaragua, China, Lebanon, Honduras, Bosnia, and also Apulia, with a photograph that immortalises a moment of the Desolata procession in Canosa di Puglia.

Through the eyes of Deghati, we discover the resilience of humanity, the beauty that emerges even in the darkest moments and the hope that accompanies every effort towards peace. The exhibition not only celebrates the talent of a great photographer, but also honors the ability of art to tell stories, raise awareness and inspire change. At a time when the theme "Wars and peace" - title wanted by the artistic director of the Festival della Valle d'Itria Silvia Colasanti - is more relevant than ever, Deghati’s photographs remind us of the importance of being active witnesses to our history and working collectively for a better future. A reflection on the power of photography to change our way to see the world.

Following the inauguration, at 8:30 p.m., the Cloister of San Domenico will host a free concert by the Orchestra della Magna Grecia, conducted by Piero Romano, with pianist Francesco Nicolosi. The program includes two piano concertos by Giovanni Paisiello (Nos. 4 and 7) and Parafrasuite by Nicola Locritani, inspired by the work of the great composer from Taranto.

Manoocher Deghati has been photographing news, conflicts, and social issues around the world since 1978, starting with the Iranian revolution and the subsequent war with Iraq in his home country, Iran. After being exiled from Iran in 1985, he worked for several important agencies (Keystone, Sipa, Black Star, AFP), magazines, and the United Nations in four continents. Moreover, he worked for publications such as: Time, Life, Newsweek, GEO, and National Geographic. In 2002 he founded the Istituto di Fotogiornalismo AINA in Kabul. After running the photographic operations of the Associated Press in the Middle East for four years, he now works as a freelancer from his new base in Southern Italy.

The exhibition will be open until 31 August.

Festival programme on www.festivaldellavalleditria.it
Info: tel. +39 080 4805100, info@festivaldellavalleditria.it

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