PHOTOGRAPHY – Farewell to Mario Troiani, the soul of Israel in his shots

After living between Milan, Paris and the Far East, photographer Mario Troiani settled in Israel drawn by “the emotions that this country and its light awaken in me.” For Troiani, born in 1962, capturing Israel’s colors and characters was more than a career; it was a passion. This was underscored by his exhibition The light makes my life – 50 photos from Tel Aviv and Israel, showcased last year in Genua. The exhibition featured a captivating series of images from the beaches of the White City, the alleys of Jerusalem, and the shores of the Dead Sea.

Troiani passed away in his beloved Tel Aviv after battling a long-term illness. “He was a fantastic person and an excellent photographer,” said Bruno Gazzo, president of the Federation of Italy-Israel Associations and its Genoa section. Together, they organized the exhibition to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Jewish State. In that project, remarked Gazzo, Troiani found “new strength to fight against his illness.” He continued updating his Facebook page for as long as he could, sharing his photographs from Israel as a testament to the resilience of Israeli society after the October 7 attacks.