Text by Lorenzo Balbi, written on the occasion of the exhibition Ceasefire 2005–2025: Twenty Years of Battles for Human Rights.
From March 7 to 23, 2025, Manica Lunga and Sala d’Ercole, Palazzo d’Accursio, Piazza Maggiore 6, Bologna
His line has accompanied the struggle for freedom of information with projects on Julian Assange and WikiLeaks, extending to his most recent works, such as portraits of journalists killed in the Gaza Strip, created in collaboration with the Committee to Protect Journalists.
The key image of the exhibition, like its title, refers to Palestine, in particular to Rahaf Ziad Abu Suweirh, a Palestinian child who died of a heart attack following a bombing. Through the delicacy of its lines, the artwork conveys the fragility and horror of war, transforming a personal tragedy into a universal symbol of pain and resistance. Rahaf’s face thus becomes a silent warning, an invitation to reflect on injustice and on the devastating consequences of conflict for the most vulnerable.
Equally significant are his works on the Mediterranean migration crisis: the exhibition includes illustrations displayed on board the SOS Méditerranée rescue ship Ocean Viking, which have brought visibility to the tragedy of people fleeing across the sea.
Gianluca Costantini is not only an illustrator but also an activist who uses drawing as a peaceful yet powerful weapon. His works, shared worldwide and often at the center of political controversy, demonstrate that art can be action, resistance, and memory. This exhibition is a journey through his tireless search for truth and justice, a testimony to how images can become a collective cry for freedom.
