Gianluca Costantini's 'The Voyage of Italy' Documents COVID-19 Crisis

Italian artist and activist Gianluca Costantini (Ravenna, 1971) has launched 'The Voyage of Italy,' a series of black-and-white illustrations documenting the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. The project, shared via his Twitter account, depicts frontline workers including doctors, military personnel, and laborers, as well as scenes such as army trucks carrying coffins from Bergamo. Costantini describes his work as 'graphic journalism' and considers his Twitter profile his best artwork, using it to communicate with activists and journalists globally. He emphasizes that drawing adds a subjective layer and directs the viewer's gaze, distinguishing it from photography. The artist, who previously created illustrations on anti-Erdogan themes, Giulio Regeni, and Chilean protests, felt compelled to show the world what was happening in Italy. He notes that his creative process changed little during lockdown, as he is accustomed to solitude, though he misses direct interaction.