Exstracomunit / Christian Sinibaldi
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They come mainly from the Africa. Since 2002 MSF has established a project in Lampedusa, one of the main entry doors to Europe.
There have been a number of “tragic landings” reported, with an unknown number of deaths. Although migration has become a structural phenomenon in Italy, reception conditions for these people have not markedly improved and the living conditions for undocumented migrants are usually extremely difficult. Even though high numbers of boat arrivals continue to be foreseen, access to care for illegal migrants still remains a mirage in various parts of the country.
The name Exstracomunit comes from the misspelled word found on a grave inside the island’s graveyard, where the unnamed bodies found at sea are buried. The correct Italian word is Extracomunitari, meaning ‘Non-EU’ or, more simply, migrant.
Postscript: We produced this copy in the latter part of 2014 since when of course the world has become all too aware of Lampedusa and the migrant / refugee crisis.
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About Christian
Winner of the 2014 IPA One Shot:One World Competition Christian has found critical and commercial success in the thirteen years since basing himself in London. Regular trips to Italy suggest his countrymen realise they’ve lost a talent to the UK.
"Photography, for me, is about different points of view. The vanishing point and depth of field in a picture is related to your feelings and the message that you’re trying to communicate. The subject is just the initial mask. Photographs are built on levels of meaning. Photography is a strong medium... a vision that can speak."
(To read more about Christian Sinibaldi, see Who we are)