Exhibition – Italy

THE MEMORIAL FOR MIGRANTS IN THE ICELAND OF LAMPEDUSA

Lampedusa Island functions as a critical gateway for migrants, particularly those seeking to traverse from Africa to Europe. Strategically located, the island links the Mediterranean Sea to Italy. Migrants undertake this perilous journey with diverse aspirations; however, a significant number have tragically lost their lives en route. On October 3 of 2013, a catastrophic shipwreck claimed the lives of 368 individuals, 255 were requed and 20 went missing. In response to this tragedy, a monument was commissioned in 2016 by artist Mimmo Paladino, aimed at preserving the memory of these migrants and contributing to the shaping of collective memory. This monument symbolizes the migrants’ struggle for survival and attracts numerous visitors. Furthermore, an annual memorial ceremony is held each October 3 to commemorate the anniversary of the disaster. On this occasion, the community is not alone in their remembrance efforts. Additionally, a committee called the 3 October Committee has been established following the disaster. The committee plays a facilitative role in bringing together various stakeholders and raising awareness. https://www.comitatotreottobre.it Their current slogan is #ProtectPeopleNotBorders There are also other organisations work about migrants in Lampedusa. Mediterrania Saving Humans, ARCI, UISG are some of them. In Lampedusa, a community came together to resque migrants from the sea. However, these activities are often accepted illegal.This situation makes it difficult fort hem to achiave their goals. 

The monument in Lampedusa is an important landmark for reconstructing the Italian collective memory. However, the actions surrounding it are not universally supported. Especially parties and groups with negative attitudes towards migrants stand against these actions. 

Migrants, whose primary aspiration is to attain a safer, more prosperous, and peaceful life, are ultimately left with nothing but this monument. This monument serves not only as a historical symbol but also as a poignant reminder to our collective conscience.

THE PARK OF MEMORIES IN LANCIANO

The park in Lanciano for Memory was opened in 2015. This park was opened keep alive the memory of Holocaust and to strengthen collective memory. This park was a camp formerly and then turned a place to honour those victims. In this park, there are also a tablet for Holocaust memory and a memorial for the Samudaripen of Roma and Sinti. The second one was built in 2018 and represents more than 500.000 victims of Roma and Sinti origins by Nazifascist during the second World War. 

THE MONUMENT TO THE FALLEN ITALIANS IN AFRICA

This monument is dedicated initially to the Italian soldiers who lost their lives in the Ethiopian War (1935-1936) organized by Mussolini, and later to all Italian soldiers who have died. It is a fascist era monument.The monument was built in Syracuse in the 60s, but its history is complicated. It was originally intended to be constructed in Ethiopia, but the outbreak of the Second World War and Italy’s loss of its colonies let to its eventual construction in Syracuse, Sicily at the end. *