Which are the factors that have created one of the of the leading man of the Sicilian Mafia?  How did Jakub Stanek come across this dangerous man in sunny Sicily and how did the idea of encapsulating this unusual encounter in the form of a photo publication come about? This unique experience in which Stanek built a friendly relationship with Giuseppe, made it possible to showcase and build on the image of a criminal, together with the everyday image of a hospitable, friendly, intelligent man who loves his small homeland. The photos are impressions of places, stories heard and people pointed out by »Peppe«. The Sicilian mafia today, Cosa Nostra, is a cleverly camouflaged machine blending into people's daily lives, weakening the state and controlling businesses. Proof of how organised and secretive the organisations structure is, is the fact that for these past 25 years Matteo Messina Denaro – the ringleader, so to speak - has remained a free man, while life on the streets goes on at its own pace, and the people of Sicily seem to pay no attention to the world of deals, patronage and harangues of which they are a part of. Somewhere high in this puzzle is Giuseppe Fontana - Matteo's friend, his right hand, consigliere. He deals his cards prudently and lives a seemingly ordinary life – the life of which this photo-book speaks of.  

Photographs: Jakub Stanek Text: Jakub Wiechowski Design: Piotr Najar Year: 2017 Hard cover, 118 pages Language: English

ISBN: 978-83-949136-0-1