The 15th edition of Cortona on the Move, a renowned photography festival held in the ancient Tuscan hill town of Cortona, Italy, is showcasing the work of 76 international artists who explore the complex theme of reconciliation. The festival, titled "Come Together," examines personal, social, and political forms of reconciliation in a world marked by ongoing conflicts. The exhibitions are spread throughout the historic hilltop town and will run until November 2.
Among the featured works is "I Have Done Nothing Wrong" by artist Mika Sperling, a deeply personal project where she confronts the abuse she suffered at the hands of her grandfather. Sperling's work includes a powerful visual representation of coming to terms with her traumatic past through a cut-out family photograph, symbolically removing her abuser from the family narrative. This project exemplifies the festival's focus on personal reconciliation and healing.
The festival also presents Christopher Anderson's "Family Trilogy," created in collaboration with his partner Marion Durand specifically for this event. The work offers a carefully curated exploration of family life through Anderson's distinctive photographic lens. Additionally, the award-winning project "Maria," which won the COTM Award in 2024, examines the lasting impact of Portuguese colonialism through the story of one woman's life. The project tells the story of Maria, who was trafficked from Angola at age nine and worked for decades in Portugal, reflecting on the memory of African presence in the country.
Several photographers have contributed works that address broader social and political reconciliation. French photographer Veronique de Viguerie presents images of a balloon seller in Afghanistan, capturing moments of beauty that persist despite the harsh realities of life in the war-torn country. From the WM Hunt/Collection Blind Pirate comes "Living Service Flag," photographed in Kansas around 1918, which focuses on large groups of people coming together to create distinctly American formations.
One of the most powerful examples of reconciliation featured in the festival is Jan Banning's work documenting healing from the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. The project tells the extraordinary story of Rose Mukarusagara, who lost her two eldest children and almost her entire family when a group led by Ezechiel Niyibizi attacked her, killed her baby and sister-in-law, and left Rose severely injured with scars that remain visible on her right hand. In 2014, Rose joined CBS Rwanda's sociotherapy program seeking healing. During these sessions, Ezechiel apologized for killing her baby, and Rose eventually found the strength to forgive him.
Environmental themes are represented through the work of Lech Wilczek, an advocate for environmental protection who lived with his partner Simona Kossak in the forests of Poland. His photographs document their unique life and their intimate relationship with forest animals. Ray Banhoff contributes "Supersosia," which creates joyful portraits of lookalikes across Italy, exploring how people come to terms with themselves by becoming someone else.
The festival includes works addressing cultural and political tensions in various regions. Iranian-Canadian photographer Parisa Azadi presents work that captures the youth of Iran in small acts of rebellion, examining the ongoing tensions between modernity and tradition. Her project "Ordinary Grief" traces the everyday lives of Iranians while exploring her own process of coming to terms with estrangement from her birth country.
"Restricted Images" by Patrick Waterhouse represents a collaborative effort with the Warlpiri people of central Australia, using images from Australia's colonial past that Aboriginal artists have revised using traditional techniques. "The Colonial Eye" examines Italy's complicated occupation of Africa, where photography served as a weapon of the colonial regime, mirroring the mentality of colonialists during an occupation that caused over 500,000 deaths. One striking image shows Prince Asfaw Wossen, son of Emperor Haile Selassie.
Looking toward the future, photographers Giulia Piermartiri and Edoardo Delille use slide projectors to envision potential futures in their "Atlas of the New World" project, focusing on climate crisis solutions. Their work features architect Andrew Garrard, who devoted himself to building 3D concrete houses after the devastating fire in Paradise, California, hoping that fire-resistant housing will prevent similar disasters in the future. The Cortona on the Move festival continues to serve as a vital platform for photographers to address urgent contemporary issues while exploring the many facets of human reconciliation.
