Anton Giulio Onofri's 'Roma città chiusa' at Galleria Nazionale

Anton Giulio Onofri's photographic series 'Roma città chiusa,' documenting Rome's deserted streets during the first COVID-19 lockdown (March–May 2020), is now on view at the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea in Rome. The exhibition, which opened but was immediately closed due to anti-COVID restrictions, features 22 photographs selected from a larger series of 175 images. The project originated from an invitation by Galleria Nazionale director Cristiana Collu for artists to engage with Giorgio de Chirico's 'Piazze d'Italia' paintings held by the museum. Onofri proposed photographing Rome's actual empty squares in dialogue with de Chirico's metaphysical works. With official permits, he captured iconic locations including Piazza del Popolo, Piazza Navona, and later expanded to Porta Portese, Pigneto, Testaccio, EUR, Tor Bella Monaca, Corviale, and Ostia. The photographs were published on the museum's website in eight episodes, receiving widespread public and media acclaim. Onofri describes the experience as intimate and unprecedented, noting that 'Rome was naked' and he felt a unique connection with the city. The full series remains accessible online, and a book collecting all photographs with Onofri's writings is planned.