THAT THING THAT NEVER VANISHED - Photographs by Emanuele Satolli

A decade of contemporary conflicts in the photographs of Emanuele Satolli

From December 14th to February 1st, Zona Conce cultural center in Fabriano hosts the exhibition "That thing that never vanished," dedicated to the photographic work of Emanuele Satolli and accompanied by the book of the same name published by Gost Books.

The exhibition, organized by Zona and Gramma Studio with the support of the Carifac Foundation, in collaboration with studioamatoriale, presents over ten years of photographic reportages from major contemporary conflict and humanitarian crises.

From Ukraine, followed from day one of the Russian invasion, to Mosul and Raqqa during the battles against ISIS; from Gaza to Afghanistan, Satolli's work focuses on individual experience and the human condition exposed to the tragedy of war.

"In an era dominated by the proliferation of digital images—amid propaganda, disinformation, and synthetic productions generated by artificial intelligence—Satolli's work reaffirms the value of photography as a direct testimony and guardian of memory," writes Giulia Tornari, founder of Zona and Gramma Studio, and curator of the exhibition. "His images document the stories of people and places scarred by war and are striking for their proximity to the subjects photographed, conveying the intimacy of experiences lived in extreme contexts, through a gaze that combines documentary rigor and ethical responsibility."

In the words of James Marson, Ukraine Bureau Chief of The Wall Street Journal, in the text of “That Thing That Never Vanished”: “War stirs the blood. The teeth clench. The jaw tense. The heart pounding. Is death around the corner? Is it your death, or someone else’s? The banality of everyday life fades. It is here, on the border between life and death, that one truly lives. Everything matters, because there is no higher stake. How did we get here? Thousands of years have passed, but the goals of war remain unchanged: to defend a homeland, a people, a resource—or to conquer someone else’s. Even what drives someone to war remains the same: money, pride, loyalty, ambition.”

Emanuele Satolli is a photojournalist who, for the past ten years, has dedicated himself to photographically documenting conflicts and humanitarian crises. He began reporting on the war in Ukraine on the first day of the Russian invasion and continues to return to the country today, intent on investigating the conflict's impact on the civilian population. He was in Mosul when the Iraqi army launched a long and bloody operation to liberate the city from ISIS control. He photographed the fall of the Islamic State in Raqqa, considered the terrorist group's Syrian stronghold. In Gaza, he covered the violent protests that erupted following the move of the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

He witnessed the conflict in Libya and the conditions of migrants in detention centers. He traveled several times to Afghanistan, both with American troops and alone, in areas controlled by the Taliban, before the country returned to their full control.
His reports have been published in leading Italian and international magazines and newspapers, with ongoing collaborations especially with TIME Magazine and The Wall Street Journal.
During his work, he has collaborated with international journalists and editors and met people who, despite themselves, found themselves experiencing war, recounting their individual destinies.

Further information

December 14, 2025 – February 1, 2025

C/O ZONA CONCE, Via Le Conce, 76 – FABRIANO

The space is open daily from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM and from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Admission to the "That Thing That Never Vanished" exhibition: €7

Combined admission to the Ruggeri Mannucci Museum + "That Thing That Never Vanished" exhibition: €10

CONTACTS

ZONA CONCE

info@carifacarte.it

+39 328 103 0132

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