Artists grapple with the grief following the earthquake in the southern Italian city of L'Aquila. They describe art as the ultimate human response to the "chaos" of nature, art as a mirror to process this deep, invisible grief.

A restorer reflects on the value of art and restoration, which for her have been a lifeline after the L'Aquila earthquake. Other artists highlight how art can become an instrument for personal and collective rebirth, capable of creating spaces for sharing, giving meaning to lived experiences, and contributing to the social and cultural reconstruction of the city.

People who survived the earthquake describe their first reactions upon feeling the tremors and then upon seeing so many homes and buildings in ruins. It was hard to believe it was real.