Suddenly, I felt I had to go to Auschwitz.
My personal story, which led me to explore the Human Being, seen into the streets of the world, had closed his circle with the publication of a book on the subject (Dec 2012). Years of work to capture images on the fly, trying to get in that fleeting moment, with the very essence of human being. An act of love towards the daily existence of unknown men and women. But, it was time to change direction, to explore areas of the human soul still unknown to me, and perhaps this sudden urge calling me to Auschwitz, stemmed precisely from this.
It was not the first time I visited a concentration camp (I went to Dachau in the early ’90s), but this was in another life for me. I booked my flight for Krakow and I left on an iced february morning.
Not much to say about the work I made there. The photos should speak for themselves. I can only say that I have made these photos in a certain way just because it evoked the two main feelings that I felt entering Auschwitz. A sensation of total disbelief and overwhelming. Maybe I’m too cool and rational, but despite being immersed in that place, I could not believe its real existence, and all that it meant and symbolized. Could it, truly, have been real? Was it the Mankind, which I had loved so much in the streets of the world, to realize what I had in front of my eyes in these moments? And where was God when everything happened?
This first feeling led to the second one: overwhelming. Too much inputs, too much thoughts, too many visions crowded into my mind to just point toward a certain direction. So, this is the way, the series was born.
Nothing more to say : just silence and thoughts, endless thoughts.
Donato Chirulli
Images realized at Auschwitz Birkenau Konzentration Lager I – Auschwitz Birkenau Konzentration Lager II – Muzeum Historyczne Miasta Krakowa (Fabryka emalia Oskara Schindlera)
Donato Chirulli: Biography
Born in Rome, Italy 1958
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Degree in Medicine & Surgery 1983.
Photographer since early 80’s.
Devoted entirely to Photography starting from the 2000s
Since then, published the Photobooks: “Rome the line and Color” in 2004 for Palombi & Partner and “Alla Scoperta della Street Photography” (Discovering the Street Photography) in 2012 for Reflex Editions.
Collaborations with Major Italian Photo,Travel, Food & Lifestyle Magazines.
2010 Winner Gran Prix Photography – Reportage Section
2012 Official Photographer for Fujifilm Italy at Photoshow – Rome
2013 Oficial Photographer for Fujifilm Italy at eXperience Tour
2012/2013 Official X.com Photographer for Fujifilm Global.
2013 Promotional X20 Video for Fujifilm Global
2012 – Collaboration with Photoportal “Riflessifotografici.com”
Selected for “A Glimpse at Photo Vogue 2012 ・101 Photographers/101 Pictures” (Milan, 2012).
Selected for “A Glimpse at Photo Vogue 2013 (In progress)
Selected by Leica Camera for a reportage to publish into Leica Official Website (In Progress).
Actually I dedicate myself exclusively to he realization of personal projects or assigment, training and collaborations with companies in the photo industry.
