Josef Koudelka's 30-Year Mediterranean Journey at Ara Pacis

The Ara Pacis Museum in Rome hosts 'Radici' (Roots), a retrospective of Josef Koudelka's 30-year photographic journey across the Mediterranean. The exhibition features black-and-white images of archaeological sites from 18 countries, including Syria, Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, France, Albania, Croatia, and Italy. Koudelka, born in Boskovice in 1938, is known for his work with Magnum Photos and his coverage of the Prague Spring. His photographs emphasize intense shadows and burning light, capturing temples, roads, and sculpted decorations. The show includes a 2006 image of Palmyra before its destruction by the Islamic State. Koudelka's technique avoids human figures, focusing on pure architecture and landscape. The exhibition is curated by Raffaele Orlando, an archaeologist and official at the Ministry of Culture.