Italian photojournalist Mario Boccia is set to open a new exhibition in Sarajevo on Monday, November 2, 2026, at the History Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The show, titled Sarajevo 1992–1996 – The Longest Siege, presents roughly fifty black‑and‑white photographs taken by Boccia during the city’s four‑year siege, originally for the Italian newspaper Il Manifesto.
The collection offers a visual record of ordinary life amid bombardment, illustrating how residents maintained dignity and civil resistance even as the war raged. Boccia, who covered the siege alongside many other journalists, recalls the unique experience of displaying his own images in Sarajevo while it was still under attack. In September 1994 he photographed a computer‑training class in the Ciglane neighbourhood; the pictures were later displayed on cardboard walls for the children to view.
After the conflict ended, Boccia continued to maintain close ties with Sarajevo. He has received messages from former subjects who survived the war, including the girl in his famous shot, "The Girl Running," who later reached out to thank him. Boccia stresses the ethical balance required when photographing people in war, noting that intruding on private moments can be sensitive.
The exhibition is curated by the Italian War History Museum in Rovereto (MITAG) and the Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT), part of the Centre for International Cooperation. It will remain on display until the end of November, and some of the photographed residents are expected to attend the opening.
Boccia has previously shown his wartime work in Sarajevo and across the Balkans. He believes that discussing the 1990s conflict remains vital, provided it is approached with respect for the pain endured by those involved.
