Rome, The World
Two hundred years after the city inspired Goethe to publish his book Italian Journey, Rome has been chosen as the theme for this year’s International Photography Festival.
Rome, The World is the 15th edition of Fotografia: Festival Internazionale di Roma and runs at the MACRO on Via Nizza until 8 January 2017.
The theme was selected to highlight Rome’s importance as a crossroads of international culture, just as it was for Goethe and other pilgrims of the Grand Tour.
Begin in the foyer and you’ll see Roger Ballen’s installation of a haphazard wooden shack. Inside Ballen has recorded his version of Roman history with a collection of eerie characters and odd objects. As well as viewing the complementing photographs outside, visitors can enter the hut and experience this macabre environment directly.
Upstairs, the main collection begins with a large format photograph of Rome from the sky by Olivo Barbieri. Blurred around the edges with just a small area of focus, it’s a confusing version of a famous city we think we know well. Using this technique, Barbieri transforms real-life Rome into a seemingly model city with shrunken citizens and buildings. Next, the viewer is led through the fascist architecture of EUR by Hans Christian Schink and shown snapshots of Rome’s urban life by Tod Papageorge.
Alfred Selland’s bright and bold images ask the question ‘what remains of the Roman Empire?’ By transforming the Colosseum into a luxury hotel or scaling down the city into a model village, Selland shows us how ancient and modern Rome are constantly competing.
Work by Gabriele Basilico and Martin Parr, among others, completes the main collection, but don’t leave without visiting the second floor. The display of Pier Paolo Pasolini images are a must-see.
FOTOGRAFIA – International Festival of Rome
Till 8 January 2016
MACRO
Via Nizza, 138
Tue-Sun 10.30am-7.30pm
Entry Fee €11-€9
