Picture gallery
Building bridges
This week an exhibition of photos and memorabilia opened in the northern Italian town of Bassano del Grappa in the Veneto region. "Boxing Bassano" is the culmination of a project using photography as a way of promoting dialogue between generations and cultures.
Sharing stories
Eight children, aged between seven and 11, from immigrant families living in Bassano were put into pairs with eight locals over the age of 65. The older person took their young partner to visit a spot which held particularly fond memories or had a personal emotional significance. The child took photographs inspired by the places they saw and the stories they heard.
Learning another perspective
The project offered the children the chance to connect with the city's history. It also gave older people an opportunity to share their memories with some of Bassano's newest residents and to learn about their cultures.
Camera tips
The project's artistic coordinator is British photographer Lara Platman. She gave the children plenty of photography tips as most of them had never used a professional camera before. Here she is teaching 10-year-old Sofia how to frame and focus on her subject: Bassano's landmark Palladian Bridge.
Photos for change
In recent times, there's been increasing hostility towards the large immigrant population in Bassano and the organizers hope this project will help to break down barriers and prejudices. Boxing Bassano is on display at Palazzo Bonaguro in the heart of the city, and also features Lara Platman's own photographs of the participating pairs. Open until September 4th, the exhibition is part of Bassano's OperaEstate Festival. (Author: Dany Mitzman, Editor: Kate Bowen)
Boxing memories
The children's photos were put into special personal "memory boxes," hence the exhibition's title: Boxing Bassano. Lara Platman gave all the participants, young and old, a box and a diary to fill with written memories and memorabilia, as well as their photos.
Something in common
Nicola, 74, chose to take 10-year-old Sara up the mountain to one of his favorite spots which overlooks the city of Bassano. They bonded immediately, thanks to their shared passion for hill-walking and wild flowers.
Capturing the view
The rain stopped just long enough for Sara to take a few panoramic photos from the top of the mountain behind the city.
Personal treasures
Sara's photos beautifully captured the atmosphere of Nicola's favorite place.