Close/far. A journey of discovery exploring the cultural and natural heritage of immigration in Italy

October 28 > November 27, 2022

Sala fontana
Admission free in via Milano 13

 

 

Close/far is a photographic exhibition, due to run in Rome from 28 October to 27 November 2022, devised to mark the 50th anniversary of the UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. The exhibition will be held at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni and in a number of libraries managed by the Istituzione Biblioteche di Roma Capitale: “Europea” in Piazza Fiume, “Ennio Flaiano” at Tufello, “Pier Paolo Pasolini” in Spinaceto, “Enzo Tortora” at Testaccio.

The exhibition is promoted by the Italian National Commission for UNESCO, by Roma Culture, by the Azienda Special Palaexpo, by the Istituzione Biblioteche di Roma Capitale and by the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Istituto di Studi sul Mediterraneo.

 
Image: Rayhan Ahmed, Traditional rakher upobas festival, Bangladesh

Close/far. A journey of discovery exploring the cultural and natural heritage of immigration in Italy 28 October__27 November 2022
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The five venues between them will be hosting a total of over four hundred photographs taken by photographers from the countries with the highest number of immigrants in Italy. The photographers use their images to illustrate the cultural and natural heritage of their various different countries of origin, building a dialogue with the institutional photographs of places classed as UNESCO World Heritage and Intangible Cultural Heritage sites.

All the photographs have been selected on the basis of five different themes: 1) Human settlements and the movement of peoples; 2) Spirituality; 3) Festivities, celebrations, crafts, food and artistic expressions; 5) The natural environment, geo- and bio-diversity; and 5) Portraits.

Stefano Romano, Bambini Orang Asli giocano nel lago nel loro villaggio, Kampung Salam Rakit  | Ulu Tiram, JOHOR, Maggio 2019. Orang Asli, letteralmente vuol dire persone originarie e sono considerati i primi abitanti della Malesia, la popolazione tribale originaria.
Studio Kene Mali, Fourou Fourou  | Kanadjiguila, Mali 2021

The exhibition sets out to foster mutual acquaintance and debate between migrants and Italian citizens, bearing in mind that the UNESCO Declaration on Cultural Diversity states that “in our increasingly diverse societies, it is essential to ensure harmonious interaction among people and groups with plural, varied and dynamic cultural identities as well as their willingness to live together”.

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While the exhibition is running, the libraries will be hosting four encounters addressing some of the themes in greater depth. This is the schedule of the encounters:

 

Ennio Flaiano Library - Via Monte Ruggero, 39

3 November at 5.30 pm: "Bangladesh: images and words"

Encounter with photographer Stefano Romano and migration expert Sara Rossetti, who will be talking about Bangladesh and the Bangladeshi community’s immigration to Rome.

 

Europea Library - Via Savoia, 15

7 November at 5.30 pm: "Afghanistan: images and words"

Encounter with Morteza Khaleghi, an artist of Afghan origin, and with Afghan photographer and educator Reza Heidari Shahbidak. Afghanistan and the Afghan community’s immigration to Rome will be the themes addressed in the course of the evening.


Enzo Tortora Library - Via N. Zabaglia, 27b

8 November at 5.30 pm: " KENE Project: images and words"

Encounter iwth Cote d’Ivoire photographer Mohamed Keita, founder of the KENE school, and with Luca Attanasio, a journalist and an expert in migration. The encounter will focus on the KENE project and the migratory phenomena.

 

Pier Paolo Pasolini Library - Viale Caduti per la Resistenza, 410/A

18 November at 6.00 pm: "Mali: images and words"

Encounter with Cote d’Ivoire photographer Mohamed Keita; Giovanni Boccardi, architect, conservator and former UNESCO officer; and Amedeo Siragusa, Fondazione Pianoterra Onlus. The topics addressed will include Africa, with a particular focus on Mali, immigration to Rome via African routes and the Djenné UNESCO site.

For further details: www.bibliotechediroma.it and social channels @bibliotechediroma

  

Sala fontana | Admission free