The "WARS" exhibition stems from this awareness: war is not only a historical, political or military event, but a condition that transforms places, bodies, looks. And photography doesn't explain what war is. He forces us to look at her.
At the base of the "WARS – War and Revolutionary Stories" competition, from which this exhibition is born, there is a deep conviction: good photography, especially that of reportage, takes time. Time to get to know the places, understand their geography and habits, build relationships, and understand the human and social contexts in which we operate. Only through this slow and rigorous process can the photographer really be ready to capture that decisive moment capable of turning into information, emotion and narration.
In an increasingly rapid and superficial information system, WARS was born to defend an ancient craft, which despite technological evolution continues to need method, resources and depth of gaze. The images made in war zones, during humanitarian crises or in places forgotten by men and the law, are not simple visual documents: they have the strength to generate empathy, closeness and solidarity, contributing to the growth of collective consciousness.
A single photograph can tell the drama of other human beings and make visible what often remains on the margins of global attention. This is why WARS wants to be a space for reflection and a point of reference for those who love photography and believe in its civil and informative value.
In the three editions held, the competition involved over 300 photographers from all over the world, representing 120 countries, confirming itself as an international platform capable of giving voice to complex and necessary stories. WARS is not just a photographic award, but a shared opportunity: for those who take images and for those who observe them, to stop, understand and look at the world with greater awareness.
Creator and curator: Raffaele Crocco
Artistic Director: Fabio Bucciarelli
Photographs: Laurence Geai, Manu Brabo, Dar Yasin, Giles Clarke, Michele Spatari, Siegfried Modola, Santi Palacios, Federico Rios Escobar
