But it is with the two Great Wars that documentary photography acquired an even more crucial role, going far beyond the sterile recording of historical events of global significance, and slipping through the strict definition of being an instrument of denunciation. Every aspect, from the conditions of a soldier in the trenches and international diplomatic meetings to fragmented daily lives and moments of camaraderie, was entitled to become a story to be told. And most importantly, all of those stories had to be told in the immediate, not just handed down to future generations.

Today, all of these aspects are brought together in contemporary documentary photography. The need to record and/or denounce an event, the importance of raising social, political and cultural awareness, the urge of triggering a reflection. Within this field, the approaches can be very different, as every photographer is a storyteller of its own.

For example, the shots by Martin Parr, which can be seen in Palazzo Mora, have a spontaneous style as it is the photographer’s hallmark to capture casual moments from everyday life. The criticism of leisure and consumerism of today is often imbued with a sense of humour, telling stories that stand on a precarious balance between sympathetic irony and social satire.

Each of the photographers at Personal Structures convey the reality around them differently, and it is this difference that makes documentary photography a field worth exploring, worth celebrating and sharing. The importance of documentary photography can be found in all of its nuances and approaches. Especially now, where the boundaries between fact and fiction are becoming less tangible every day, making the need for documentary photographers more essential than ever.

They are witnesses, chroniclers writing with images, who bear a significant responsibility: to tell a story that also tells the truth.

written by Suzanne van der Borg

You can visit all participant's installations at Palazzo Mora and Palazzo Bembo until the 27th of November or discover their work by exploring the virtual tours online. Discover more about the artist on their profiles online.