Publishing house Mimésis has released a comprehensive book titled "When Photography is Political" by renowned Italian photojournalist Uliano Lucas, documenting over half a century of his groundbreaking career. Lucas, recognized as one of the first to introduce the concept of independent photojournalism to Italy, presents his finest photographs alongside compelling narratives that capture pivotal moments in modern history.
The book chronicles Lucas's early career during the cultural awakening of Milan in the 1960s, when the city became a hub of artistic and social transformation. His earliest professional assignments for the influential magazine Il Mondo marked the beginning of a distinguished career that would span decades and continents. These formative years established Lucas's reputation as a photographer who could capture not just events, but their deeper political and social significance.
Lucas's lens documented some of Italy's most turbulent periods, including the iconic images from the riots of the 1970s that became emblematic of the era's social unrest. His work extended beyond street protests to include in-depth reporting inside factories, exploring the lives of workers and the industrial landscape that shaped Italy's economic transformation. He also turned his attention to Italy's suburban peripheries and the experiences of Italian emigrants, providing a comprehensive view of the nation's social fabric during times of significant change.
The photographer's international assignments took him to conflict zones across Africa and the former Yugoslavia, where he documented wars and their human impact. His coverage of the struggles in Portugal during the Carnation Revolution stands as a testament to his commitment to capturing moments of political upheaval and social transformation across Europe and beyond.
The 304-page publication, available from Editions Mimésis with ISBN 978-88-6976-479-0 and priced at €28.00, serves as both a retrospective of Lucas's artistic achievement and a visual history of more than fifty years of political and social change. The book can be accessed through the publisher's website at www.editionsmimesis.fr, offering readers an opportunity to explore the intersection of photography and politics through the eyes of one of Italy's most influential photojournalists.
