South Tyrol’s Bunkers Bear Witness: South Tyrol’s Bunkers Shoulder WWII History in Vincenzo Pagliuca’s Portraits. Italy annexed the region in 1919, and in 1940, the Fascist regime built fortifications. Now, photographer Vincenzo Pagliuca captures the surreal landscapes of these concrete giants.
Freestanding concrete bunkers and stone-carved fortresses blend with nature, creating a stark contrast with the Alpine beauty. Their domed shapes and thick walls, now overgrown with grass, silently tell stories of conflict and peace.
Pagliuca’s Bunker project explores these structures’ relationship to their remote locations, highlighting their imposing presence against the mountain backdrop. The bunkers, without people, are a lasting reminder of the lengths political and military forces will go to uphold nationalist ideologies.
The publisher’s statement reflects on the bunkers as a 'difficult legacy' of a period marked by nationalism and unresolved conflict. These images serve as a poignant reminder of history's enduring impact.
For a copy of the book, visit the publisher's shop. See more on the artist’s Instagram.
