Narcissus. Photography in the mirror
Electa 2024
English translation of the didactic panels and captions by Scriptum
“Narcissus. Photography in the mirror” is the title of the photographic exhibition hosted at the Baths of Caracalla from 15 May to 3 November 2024.
In the evocative setting of one of the capital’s most important archaeological sites, the exhibition presents 78 iconic shots by 35 masters of photography, divided into three sections connected by the fil rouge of the mirror and the reflection, a recurring theme in the artistic practice of numerous internationally recognised authors. The photos are presented in two covered rooms and in the Natatio (the largest outdoor pool of antiquity) of the Baths: the dialectic with the majestic Roman vestiges gives the contemporary a dimension of eternity.
Through celebrity portraits, enigmatic interiors and snapshots of everyday life captured in time and at different latitudes, the visitor is invited to reflect on their own identity and relationship with their self-image. The photos, placed in relation by affinity or contrast, compose a story that goes beyond the photographic occasion and reveals the story behind every single shot, showing the subjects and motifs that have inspired authors of very different eras and poetics.