WERNER MANSHOLT

“PALERMO DIARY”

On his first visit to Palermo in 2015, Werner Mansholt saw the exhibition “Palermo Panorama” by Mauro d'Agati. Afterwards he wanted to get to know the photographer, so he called him. Mauro and he met, had a nice chat and the beginning of a beautiful friendship. In the years that followed, Werner Mansholt returned to Palermo many times and began to take photographs during his daily walks through this fascinating city.

When it comes to photography, Mansholt is something of a flâneur. He allows himself to be surprised by unexpected events and encounters. He tends not to visit the central tourist areas, but rather the neighbourhoods with ‘ordinary’ people, where everyday life takes place. He is interested in the cracks, edges and contradictions that give an idea of what is going on 'behind' everything else. He is fascinated by people and their circumstances. He is driven by the search for images that not only illustrate but also say something about the human condition.

Palermo is a fertile place for this kind of search. It has the largest historic centre in Europe and was Italy's Capital of Culture in 2018.
The people are very open, friendly and always ready for a chat. Werner Mansholt found beauty and transience, pride and longing, loneliness and community in all facets of life.

Palermo Diary

1. Edition 10/2023
Texts and Book design by Werner Mansholt
64 pages
20 x 30 cm
56 colour photographs