Holy. Donna Ferrato

10th Edition of the Panoràmic Festival

What does it mean to photograph intimate violence? And how can such violence be represented without becoming complicit in its repetition? Donna Ferrato’s work is rooted in these questions and in a career spanning more than four decades, dedicated to documenting violence hidden within the domestic sphere. Her photography is also a testimony to the struggle for rights and to resistance against structural violence. Her work does not seek to beautify violence or turn the people she photographs into victims. Her images act as a direct form of resistance against patriarchy.

The book Living with the Enemy helped bring domestic violence into the public sphere in the United States and foster a social awareness that had not previously existed. The project also contributed to the social and political support that made possible the passage of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in 1994. Later, in Love and Lust, Ferrato explored sexual freedom and desire within liberal communities, expanding her work to encompass other aspects of the female experience. Holy brings together this tension between violence, love, desire, fury and lucidity, presenting photography as a tool for resistance and transformation.

The content of this exhibition may be disturbing. Recommended for visitors aged 16 and over.