The Cold Divide: Interview with Alessandro Grassani

Can you tell us a bit about yourself? What inspired you to pick up photography?

I was always drawn to travel, different cultures, geopolitics, and adventure. While studying photography in Milan, a professor introduced us to LIFE magazine and Henry Luce’s 1936 motto:


"To see life; to see the world; to eyewitness great events…"

That line hit me like a revelation. It put into words exactly what I had been searching for. I realized that photography wasn’t just a way to observe the world from the outside, it was the tool I needed to truly live it. The moment I picked up a camera, everything clicked.

Your series Moldova, The Cold Divide was shortlisted in the Sony World Photography Awards 2025 Professional competition’s Documentary Projects category. What motivated you to pursue this project?

After turning down an assignment in Ukraine because I was already committed elsewhere, my curiosity for a region I had never explored kept growing.
I then chose Moldova, I was looking for a place rarely explored by photographers working long-term, something complex and visually challenging. Moldova offered exactly that: a country far from the news cycle and the noise of war, where I could take the time to engage with a broader, universal story about history, identity, and belonging. It’s a country suspended between two blocs, with tensions between pro-European and pro-Russian sides constantly shaping daily life.
 

Were there any memorable moments or people you encountered while shooting this series?

Meeting young people who dream of joining Europe, seeking the civil rights, freedom, and peace I was fortunate to grow up with, was deeply moving. In a world increasingly shaped by nationalism and new forms of power that silence science, the press, and individuals, their determination to hold onto these values left a lasting impression on me.

What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?

The best advice I ever received came very early in my career, in the Gaza Strip during the 2005 Israeli disengagement. I was young, eager, and suddenly working alongside photographers I had always considered masters.

One of the photographers I admired mosts told me something while we were watching settlers burn tyres as they barricaded themselves inside their homes. He said: “I’m here for history”. His words made me understand that great photography lasts only when it’s rooted in real knowledge and a deep grasp of what you’re witnessing. From that moment on, I realised photography doesn’t start with the image it starts with understanding.

What have you been up to since being recognised in the Sony World Photography Awards? And what are your plans for the future?

Since being recognised in the Sony Awards this year, I’ve worked on several assignments, including a demanding one in Haiti, and spent time planning my next steps.

The shortlisted Moldova images were created over the course of a year, with about four months spent in the field. After trying to expand the project to other countries, I realised I should continue focusing on Moldova, where I currently feel the strongest creative connection. So yes, Moldova is in my future!
 

About Alessandro Grassani