honorable mention
Danilo Garcia Di Meo italy
title
Quatrani
It has been more than ten years since the earthquake that shook l’Aquila, causing people to end up homeless, injured or dead.
The children of what it is now known as The Forbidden City are now 18 years of age and have grown up without a hometown, a safe place they can call ‘home’. Nevertheless, these children have managed to find a sense of belonging in the bond they share with one another. They started calling ‘home’ the solid friendship they built by going through the same experience with remarkable strength.
‘When an earthquake takes away the place you are from you need to find it again. Find it where there not a thing in sight but you have nothing more to ask for than the company of your family and friends. Find it in those who love you.’‘The earthquake was sort of a Year One. People don’t mention 2006, they either refer to ‘pre-earthquake or post-earthquake.’
‘It’s about relying on one another, it really is all about that.’
‘Blood is irrelevant when it comes to who I think of as a brother. Those who have gone through my same experience and have stood by me are my brothers.’
‘They say L’Aquila was beautiful, but how can I ever imagine it?’
Voices of the young people who lived through these times.
This natural catastrophe changed the land, the sense of awareness and the stories of the few and the many who were involved.
Young people from a whole generation, shattered by a devastating earthquake, found themselves looking for a way to fight back, a way to pick up the pieces and move on. And they did.
He was born in Rome, after graduating from Arts High School and Academy of Fine Arts, he received his Master’s degree at the Leica Akademie Italy in Milan and at Officine Fotografiche in Rome studying with photo editor’s National Geographic Marco Pinna and with Lina Pallotta.
After his studies, he started a freelance profession in full.
Currently working with several NGO, press agency and associations for the realization of reports, especially in the social issues; as a teacher for social photography workshops and seminars. Collaborates with Giulio Di Meo.
He takes part in Master of Photography 2019.
He receives the Gran Prix at “Andrei Stenin International Press Photo Contest”, won the “Moscow International Fotography Awards”, “Tokyo International Fotography Awards”, Remarkable Award at Siena International Photo Awards, “VOHH – Voice of Human and Hope”, “Slideluck – Naples” and “I love my work”.
He has exposed in Moscow, Berlin, Budapest, Rome, Athens, Cape Town, Chittagong, Mexico City, Istanbul, Shanghai, Ljubljana, Krasnodar (Photovista), Indian Photography Festival, Rome, Napoli, Perugia, Bologne, Ferrara.
He documents “Le Donne del Muro Alto” in the high-security section of women Rebibbia jail.
back to gallery
entry description
Quatrani (kwah-trah-nee) is the for “youngsters” used in the italian city of l’Aquila.It has been more than ten years since the earthquake that shook l’Aquila, causing people to end up homeless, injured or dead.
The children of what it is now known as The Forbidden City are now 18 years of age and have grown up without a hometown, a safe place they can call ‘home’. Nevertheless, these children have managed to find a sense of belonging in the bond they share with one another. They started calling ‘home’ the solid friendship they built by going through the same experience with remarkable strength.
‘When an earthquake takes away the place you are from you need to find it again. Find it where there not a thing in sight but you have nothing more to ask for than the company of your family and friends. Find it in those who love you.’‘The earthquake was sort of a Year One. People don’t mention 2006, they either refer to ‘pre-earthquake or post-earthquake.’
‘It’s about relying on one another, it really is all about that.’
‘Blood is irrelevant when it comes to who I think of as a brother. Those who have gone through my same experience and have stood by me are my brothers.’
‘They say L’Aquila was beautiful, but how can I ever imagine it?’
Voices of the young people who lived through these times.
This natural catastrophe changed the land, the sense of awareness and the stories of the few and the many who were involved.
Young people from a whole generation, shattered by a devastating earthquake, found themselves looking for a way to fight back, a way to pick up the pieces and move on. And they did.
about the photographer
Danilo Garcia Di Meo is an italian documentary photographer.He was born in Rome, after graduating from Arts High School and Academy of Fine Arts, he received his Master’s degree at the Leica Akademie Italy in Milan and at Officine Fotografiche in Rome studying with photo editor’s National Geographic Marco Pinna and with Lina Pallotta.
After his studies, he started a freelance profession in full.
Currently working with several NGO, press agency and associations for the realization of reports, especially in the social issues; as a teacher for social photography workshops and seminars. Collaborates with Giulio Di Meo.
He takes part in Master of Photography 2019.
He receives the Gran Prix at “Andrei Stenin International Press Photo Contest”, won the “Moscow International Fotography Awards”, “Tokyo International Fotography Awards”, Remarkable Award at Siena International Photo Awards, “VOHH – Voice of Human and Hope”, “Slideluck – Naples” and “I love my work”.
He has exposed in Moscow, Berlin, Budapest, Rome, Athens, Cape Town, Chittagong, Mexico City, Istanbul, Shanghai, Ljubljana, Krasnodar (Photovista), Indian Photography Festival, Rome, Napoli, Perugia, Bologne, Ferrara.
He documents “Le Donne del Muro Alto” in the high-security section of women Rebibbia jail.
back to gallery