Gabriele Micalizzi on War Photography, Cesura Collective, and AI

Gabriele Micalizzi, a leading Italian photojournalist and co-founder of the Cesura collective (founded in 2008), discusses his career, the impact of digital media and AI-generated fake news on photojournalism, and his future projects. In an interview with Polimoda Firenze students, Micalizzi explains how his social and humanitarian projects often lead him to conflict zones, while commercial work helps him process difficult experiences. He emphasizes that empathy developed in war contexts shapes his respectful approach to all subjects. Cesura, a multidisciplinary collective, aims to transmit knowledge to new generations like a Renaissance workshop. Micalizzi believes AI cannot replace documentary photography's authenticity, and predicts photography will be increasingly valued as art and documentation. His upcoming projects explore overpopulation and resource exploitation, alongside experiments with fresco printing and jacquard tapestry to make images physical and durable beyond digital media.