The festival of Sant’ Agata is the most important religious festival to take place in the city of Catania in Sicily.
It is celebrated in honor of the patron saint of the city, and is one of the most biggest Catholic religious holidays, because of the sheer number of people it involves and attracts.
Every year from 3rd to 6th February, more than a million faithfuls arrive in Catania to attend the processions and prayer that take place around the clock. The young Agata was part of the Christian minority who lived in Sicily during the 3rd century. The Roman governor wanted her for himself, but Agata refused. She was persecuted and martyred by cutting of her breast until she was put to death on February 5th. According to some chronicles after an eruption of the Enta volcano in the 12th century the lava flow stopped just at the church where the faithful were in prayer for the celebration of the martyrdom of St.Agata. This photo series portrays the attendees and observers of this festival during the day and night.
About Werner Mansholt
Werner Mansholt is a street photographer and photographic artist. He lives and works in Darmstadt (Germany). He is appointed member of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Photographie (DGPh) (=German Photographic Society) and Member of LensCulture Network. He attended workshops with Lorenzo Castore, Anders Petersen, Arno R. Minkkinen, Anja Niedringhaus, Wolfgang Zurborn, Eva Leitolf, Philipp Blenkinsop, Kadir v. Lohuizen, Jo Ractliffe, Davide Monteleone, Simon Norfolk (Masterclass) and Celina Lunsford (Artistic director of Fotografie Forum Frankfurt).
He had exhibitions or participation in exhibitions in Berlin, Frankfurt, Cologne, Hamburg, Darmstadt , Schömberg (Germany), Helsinki (Finland), Plock (Poland), Tbilisi (Georgia), Teplice/Prague (Czech Republic ), Kaunas (Lituania), Los Angeles (USA), Sydney (Australia) etc. His work is publishes in international magazines, calendars, newpapers, books and catalogues, among others: DIE ZEIT- Zeit-online.de, ZEIT-Magazin-online, Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, LEICA FOTOGRAFIE INTERNATIONAL, L’Oeil de la Photographie, Wiener Zeitung, FotografiaMagazine, Der Greif, DOC-Photomagazine, SHOTS-magazine, LifeForceMagazine, lenscratch, Phroom -magazine, LensCulture, book “Streetphotography 2015”, etc.
He got some Awards/Nominations: Finalist Kolga Tbilisi Photo Award2017; LensCulture Streetphotography Award 2016 Top 100; Shortlist Kaunas Photo 2016; Honorable Mention London Photo Festival 2016; Shortlist Athens Photofestival 2015; shortlist Kaunas Photo 2015; shortlist Lodz Grand Fotofestival 2015; Finalist Schömberg Fotopreis 2015; Honorable Mention MIFA (Moskow Intern. Foto Awards) 2014; Honorable Mention PhotoAnnualAwards (Czech) 2014; Shortlist International Fotofestival Schömberg, Germany 2013; Honorable Mention IPA (Lucie-Awards )Los Angeles 2013; Shortlist Tbilisi Kolga-Festival, Georiga, 2012, Short-List Athens Photo 2012; Honorable Mention Lucie-Award, Los Angeles 2008; Honorable Mention Prix de la Photographie Paris 2007. [Official Website]
