Letizia Battaglia's International Center of Photography opens in Palermo

Despite the heavy shower, yesterday Thursday 16^th November 2017, an enthusiastic crowd crammed the entrance of Pavilion 17 at the Cultural Construction Sites of the Zisa, in Palermo – Sicily- for the grand opening of the International Center of Photography, conceived and realized by world-renowned photographer Letizia Battaglia.

The International Center marks a further step in the cultural and intellectual awakening of the city of Palermo, awarded by the status of Italian Cultural Capital in 2018.

The momentum of Palermo goes beyond the national boundaries, as the opening of the International Center attests. “Today a dream comes true” proudly states Letizia Battaglia “And we can say that nowadays one can be happy in Palermo. And I am happy here in Palermo”.

Letizia Battaglia has spent much of her energy in the last 5 years, against all odds, to realize what it can be considered as her most important heritage: a tribute of love for her city, the stage, the living theatre of Letizia’s life-long work.

Starting as chronicle photographer in the late 60s, Letizia Battaglia tracked the Sicilian Mafia crime-story for two decades, shooting the bloodiest moments of the Mafia wars. Politically and socially engaged, Letizia dedicates her energy for witnessing the conditions of the Palermo’s most deprived inhabitants: in her pictures it can be seen the contrast between the glimmering top society of the Sicilian Capital attending ceremonies and theatres’ premieres and the miserable conditions of poorest families in their shacks. In all of Letizia’s shootings one can detect the love and compassion she feels for her subjects, a feeling the she extends to embrace the entire city of Palermo.

The Center occupies a 600 m² warehouse in the Cultural Construction Sites of the Zisa: a former industrial area, in the Zisa neighborhood, whose demised premises is now owned by the municipality of Palermo and is used for artistic projects. Three are the temporary exhibitions opened yesterday: Photographers for Palermo, a collection of 150 pictures of Sicilian and Italian authors picturing Palermo and its inhabitants; I am person: story of immigrations and emigrations told by Italian Photographers, curated by Kitti Bolognesi, Giovanna Calvenzi e Marta Posani, whereby 35 Italian photographers trace the history of migration from the post-war to our days; the Leopard, a retrospective by English artist and filmmaker Isaak Julien, curated by Paolo Falcone.

The Center will not host Letizia Battaglia’s work, though. “At the age of 82 I don’t want to see my own pictures anymore for I am more interested in fostering and encouraging the work –not only of photography- of other artists” says Letizia, in her role of Art Director. A role-she underlines- that she fills for free.

The International Center of Photography- that will also hold the photography archive of the city of Palermo- will be indeed an incubator for new talents, thanks to the workshops and international projects that will be realized. The space will indeed host photographers coming from all over the word, from Mexico to China and will represent a landmark of cultural exchange. A pledge of love for photography and for Palermo, that makes the capital of Sicily more and more interesting for its cultural and artistic vibrant scene.