Grenze 2026: Nachleben Explores the Survival of Images in Verona

The ninth edition of Grenze – International Festival of Photography and Visual Arts, titled 'Nachleben. La sopravvivenza delle immagini', will take place in Verona from September 18 to October 18, 2026. Curated by Simone Azzoni and Francesca Marra, the festival draws on Aby Warburg's concept of Nachleben (survival) to explore how images persist, transform, and re-emerge across time and contexts. The main exhibition features the photographic work of Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami (Tehran, 1940 – Paris, 2016), highlighting his lesser-known but rigorous photographic practice. The festival also presents international artists including Umberto Diecinove, Julieta Averbuj, Vedad Divović, Aline Bovard Rudaz, Yiming Zhu, Roland Schmid, and others selected via open call. Venues include the former Caserma Chiodo and the Cortile Mercato Vecchio, chosen for their layered histories. The educational program, curated by Marta Szymańska, includes a children's exhibition and a collective cyanotype performance. In an interview, Azzoni discusses the relevance of Nachleben in the digital age, where images become 'ghosts' reanimated by algorithms and social media. He emphasizes the role of curators in creating conditions for meaningful re-emergence amidst visual overload. Projects by Bovard Rudaz on watchmakers with silicosis and Yiming Zhu on silk embroiderers highlight the bodies of female workers and vanishing trades. The festival is organized by GRENZE – Arsenali Fotografici.