Letizia Battaglia's Giant Photos Adorn L'Aquila's Future Women's House Scaffolding

Giant black-and-white photographs by Letizia Battaglia have been installed on scaffolding in the historic center of L'Aquila, Italy, as part of the second temporary installation of Meraviglioso Reale, a public art project by Off Site Art. The scaffolding surrounds the future Casa delle Donne (Women's House) in Piazzale Collemaggio, a feminist and cultural hub promoted by Associazione Donne TerreMutate and Associazione Donatella Tellini, among others. Curator Camilla Carè selected images that convey purity, nature, and enchantment, reflecting Battaglia's view of photography as an act of love and knowledge. The installation follows the first cycle by Honey Long & Prue Stent in October 2021. Off Site Art has been collaborating with US nonprofit ArtBridge, the Abruzzo Region, the Municipality, and the University of L'Aquila since 2014 to accompany reconstruction after the 2009 earthquake. The Casa delle Donne, currently operating in San Francesco, will become a permanent reference point for women's culture, research, and services, addressing needs felt long before the earthquake. The installation was set up by Moliri Edilmaca.