Project Detail: lL’Exile et le Royaume

Contest:

LuganoPhotoDays 2016



Brand:

LuganoPhotoDays



Author:

Ivo Saglietti

 

Project Info

lL’Exile et le Royaume

When one leaves, why one leaves and where to

Frontier: from Latin frons, frontis, “front”, where men stay in front.

When in a country there is suffering and war along its borders refugees crowd who sleep inside wagons and live by their own wits, temporary beings who may be sent back or dream of going elsewhere even though their fate is that of remaining border refugees for their whole lives.

from Meridian Thought, Franco Cassano

In September of last year I was in Idomeni, on the border of Greece and Macedonia. Dramatic days of rain and mud. I went back this year between February and March and things had changed: the coming of refugees had multiplied; in a few days’ time I witnessed the arrival of thousands of refugees running away from war, poverty, police and cleansing.

They come and pitch a tent, often tiny, inside which many live; some have money; most survive thanks to the support from humanitarian organizations. One waits in line, a very long line, in order to be given a bag full of a little food, a pair of shoes, a jacket, medical support.

There are many, many children, often squeezed between the legs of adults in long lines. I often saw them play, chase each other and laugh. I saw young girls carry heavy shopping bags and boys bundles of sticks and firewood; at night around the bonfire I heard ancient chants. I also saw photographers with wide-angle lenses taking photographs 20 centimetres away from their faces; I wonder why, though, apprehension for ethics is on the run today.

I witnessed an attempt to break down the wall to Macedonia, failed among gases likely manufactured in Germany. I witnessed, the following day, the arrival of tens of photographers, cameramen and journalists, but at that point one was not able to make any more photographs and I stopped.

Reportage realized in BW negative film.

Ivo Saglietti, March 2016

Photos