Hidden Islam: Islamic Makeshift Places of Worship in North East Italy, 2009-2013

First edition of Hidden Islam: Islamic Makeshift Places of Worship in North East Italy, 2009-2013 by Nicolo Degiorgis (2014)

First impression

Medium format hardback in as new condition

Signed and dated by Nicolo Degiorgis to front and page

No markings

Comes with a dust jacket

Published by Rorhof

From the introduction by Martin Parr:

"Consider these facts. In Italy, the right to worship, without discrimination, is enshrined within the constitution. There are 1.35 million Muslims in Italy and yet, officially, only five mosques in the whole country. One consequence is that the Muslim population have accumulated a huge number of makeshift and temporary places of worship. These are housed in a variety of buildings including lock-ups, garages, shops, warehouses and old factories. This shortage of places to worship is particularly acute in northeast Italy – where the photographer Nicolò Degiorgis lives – home to many anti-Islamic campaigns headed by the right-wing party Lega Nord. The dull images of the many and diverse buildings that house the makeshift mosques are printed on folded pages. You open up the gatefold to reveal the scenes inside the mosques, shot in full colour. The size of the gatherings varies, from large crowds who sometimes pray outside to a small room full to bursting, or to intimate groups of two or three Muslims. Degiorgis provides a fascinating glimpse of a hidden world and leaves the conclusions about this project entirely in our own hands."