The clouds is a photographic project by Massimiliano Gatti, a narration conducted by diptychs and a reportage in two stages, in which the author approaches the photographs of the archaeological ruins of Palmyra, taken during several stays in Syria, with other photographs, made later starting from the still image of ISIS propaganda videos documenting the destruction of archaeological sites. Images, the latter, taken from various electronic devices, where "the pixel, from a unit of measurement, becomes a work tool, as if it were a brush for blending."
A linguistic comparison which, as Angela Madesani points out in her presentation paper, recalls Ugo Mulas's Verification on enlargement and from which "a reflection on the communication of our time arises, too often characterized by the ferocity of ignorance." The clouds is in fact also the title of a play by Aristophanes in which the clouds are ethereal and impalpable divinities that the Greek playwright associates with the lightness of thought of the new philosophical currents. With the same attitude Massimiliano Gatti combines images of columns and imposing architectural structures with the lightness of the clouds of dust that rise after the destruction of a monument. A dangerous, violent and nihilistic form of thought, but easy and free to access online, which denies history, memory, the past and the roots of our whole culture. Hence also the editorial choice, provocatively political, to propose this photographic project in the form of a book that could be read and browsed in both directions: from left to right and from right to left, to Western and Arabic. Hence the choice to adopt Arabic as the mediation language of the accompanying text. The graphics and cover image of this book, which inaugurates the photography series "Priority of times" for the La Grande Illusion book productions, are by Andrea Geremia.

Offset printed (interior: black + Pantone 422 U + paint / cover: black / dust jacket: black + Pantone 545 U + Pantone 726 U), with Adobe Garamond Pro, Minion Pro, Univers and Al Bayan fonts, and facilities provided by Photolithography Orchid, on Fedrigoni Symbol Tatami White paper 150 g from Fantigrafica di Cremona, Tuesday 24 September 2019. The paperback package with paperback cover in Fedrigoni Nettuno Polvere 225 g and double dust jacket in Fedrigoni Freelife Cento 170 g paper is from Legatoria Venturini of Cremona .
The commercial edition is 700 ordinary copies and 42 special copies, each of which is accompanied by a different photograph of the 42 in the book, signed and numbered by the author and made on Hahnemühle Photo Rag 308 g paper with Fine Art print.