LBS (Bruno Salvatore Latella)

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 Born with the Guilt of Being Born

Created in response to the tragic shipwreck off Cutro, Calabria, on 26 February 2023, Born with the Guilt of Being Born is both a memorial and a call to conscience. The disaster claimed the lives of dozens of people seeking safety in Europe, including many children whose identities were initially reduced to identification codes.

At the centre of the painting stands the child known as KR46M0, suspended in a vast grey-blue void. By using the child's identification code instead of a name, Bruno Salvatore Latella exposes the dehumanising consequences of indifference, reminding us that behind every statistic is a unique human life.

Breaking through the composition is the outstretched hand of a Calabrian fisherman—a symbol of compassion, solidarity, and the ordinary people who chose to act when institutions failed. The work honours the response of the local community and affirms that humanity is measured not only by laws, but by our willingness to help one another.

Today, the original painting forms part of the public collection of the City of Crotone, standing as a permanent reminder of the duty to welcome those seeking safety and of the values that underpin human rights.

Bruno Salvatore Latella (LBS) is an Italian visual artist whose work explores human rights, migration, collective memory, and social justice. Through expressive symbolism and emotionally charged imagery, he transforms contemporary events into powerful visual narratives that challenge indifference and encourage civic responsibility.

His practice reflects a strong commitment to using art as a tool for remembrance, dialogue, and advocacy, giving visibility to those whose stories are too often overlooked. Through his work, Latella invites viewers to reflect on the moral choices that shape our societies and on the shared humanity that connects us all.

By commemorating the victims of the Cutro shipwreck and celebrating the compassion shown by the local community, this artwork reminds us that protecting human dignity begins with recognising the humanity of every person, regardless of where they come from or how they arrive.