Elisa Iannacone
Wiktoria Michałkiewicz, Rezo Agency
Ruined Birthday, from 'Hope in the Rubble'
On February 6, 2023, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck northern Syria, bringing new destruction to a landscape already scarred by years of conflict. "My birthday coincided with the day of the earthquake. Amidst the rubble and chaos, that day is forever etched in my memory. The joy of a birthday mixed with the sadness and uncertainty of a tragedy that changed our lives."
This image is part of a larger collection that began in the shadows of one of the world’s most repressive regimes. Developed in secret over many years, the project relied on the immense trust of families who allowed their children to speak. It was only following the fall of the Assad regime that the work could be completed and safely shared. Now integrated into Hope in The Rubble, this series uses magical realism to explore the impact of war on the lives of children.
