La Storia Segreta delle 32 Immagini di Finta Guerra - Gianni Melotti

Thirty-Two Photos of Mock War is a postal package, wrapped in newspaper, containing a 32x25-cm Agfa Brovira photographic paper box. Inside, there are twenty-six photos in black and white and a letter on tissue paper. It also includes the string used to wrap the package and the receipt of the shipment. The package was shipped from Jaipur, India. The photos are gelatine prints with soft-toned silver salts, low-contrast, most likely due to the soak used for their development, perhaps expired or altered. The backs of the photos have the photographer’s stamp. The text of the letter addressed to someone named Franca, refers to the photos in the package, in the hope that she might “place them appropriately” and to six other photos of the same series, shipped to Tommaso Trini, to be published in a magazine. The typewritten page goes on to discuss personal comments on the harsh experience of the photo-reportage. It’s signed Gianni. The edges of the cardboard box lid are in bad condition and a piece is falling off, most likely because of several customs inspections at various borders. The string used to tie it up is made up of several independent threads, handcrafted with red- and ochre-colored hemp. The newspaper used for wrapping is “The Times of India” from 25 December 1977. The counterfoil shows the stamp of an Indian post office, with the shipping date and the Italian address of the recipient.

1. Edition 11/2019
Limited edition of 89 copies
Texts by Pier Luigi Tazzi, Lorenzo Bruni, Gianni Melotti, Elio Grazioli
Book design by 89books
Size 24x30cm
Hand sewn
72 pages
Stapled booklet of 8 pages
Book wrapped with paper that reproduces the front page of the newspaper "The Times of India" of 25 December 1977
Book contained in a printed haversack military bag
Digital print