27.03.25 – 06.04.25, #174 Davide Degano, Do-li-na

Do-li-na embraces the untold stories of Friuli and its cultural minorities, shedding light on their oral histories, mythologies, and traditions. Home to Slovenian, German, and Friulian linguistic minorities, Friuli and its people have endured the impact of fascist ideology, which sought to erase their cultural identities. Degano’s connection to these histories stems from his grandmother, whose cultural and linguistic identity—like that of many others—was shaped by the suppression of her community under the fascist regime. Through an exploration of the region’s past via photographic archives, testimonies, traditions, and music, Degano aims to demystify history, opening up new possibilities for oral traditions to become integral in the writing of Friuli’s collective memory.

From mountains to rivers, the landscape—an ever-present element in his images—bears witness to the inseparable bond between the land and its people. Like a silent observer, it holds layers of history embedded in its soil, fragments of the past carried by its rivers, and scars etched into its trees. Yet, its people and their voices remain—stories echo from the mountains (montagne) to the valleys (doline), preserving their memories, beliefs, and histories of resistance—passed down through generations.

Do-li-na becomes a symbolic space, one that intertwines landscape and memory, resistance and disappearance, reality and fiction. Through its images, the project invites us to listen to the voices that have inhabited these lands—voices that serve as a testament to the power of stories and their resilience, ensuring they are remembered and reimagined for generations to come.