Franco Fontana retrospective at Ara Pacis in Rome showcases visionary color photography

The Museo dell'Ara Pacis in Rome presents 'Franco Fontana. Retrospective', the first monographic exhibition dedicated to the Italian photographer (born Modena, December 9, 1933). Curated by Jean-Luc Monterosso, the show features over 200 works spanning Fontana's career, from early slides and Polaroids to digital images. The exhibition highlights his pioneering use of color, which was considered vulgar in photography until the late 1950s, as noted by Nathalie Boulouch. The show opens with a wide-angle view of Prague used as a cover for Time Life and Frankfurter Allgemeine, alongside a portrait by Giovanni Gastel. Key works include 'Urbano 1960' and the 1978 book 'Skyline', which Claude Nori credits with opening the way for new Italian photography. A section is devoted to vintage Ektachrome prints, which are displayed under dim light to preserve their colors. Landscapes include 'Puglia 1987' and the iconic 'Puglia 1978', divided into blue sky and golden wheat field. A study on shadow features a vintage from the 'Contact' series by Ralph Gibson, for which Fontana photographed the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana in EUR. The exhibition also includes nudes inspired by Schiele, Polaroids, and urban scenes from Los Angeles, Paris 1994, and Tokyo 1983. A video interview recreates his studio, contrasting with the minimalism of his photos. The show concludes with fashion and advertising works, including the Artemide series and the Dogi della Moda catalog.