In the third millennium, there are still men, women, and children who entrust their fate not merely to chance, but to providence itself, as they board small boats to cross the Mediterranean Sea. The issue of migration is, above all, a humanitarian tragedy. In the media narrative of this new Odyssey—strikingly current given the frequent and daily landings from North African shores—what is often missing is the soul of the story: its unfolding. What are the ordeals, the fears, and the deep passions that drive these people? What happens in this sea that swallows human lives every day? And who brings them back to the surface?

The project “Sea gives, sea takes“ by Luca Catalano Gonzaga—the only photographer in the world with access to all the vessels of the Italian Coast Guard (ships, helicopters, planes, patrol boats)—authentically documents the drama of this migratory phenomenon that displaces entire populations across hemispheres. More importantly, it highlights the various stages of sea rescue: from the sighting of overloaded, malfunctioning boats to the delicate approach and the eventual act of saving lives.
(Text by Sebastiano Caputo).