Paolo Pellegrin's 'Persona' Exhibition in Rome Marks 25 Years of Officine Fotografiche

A major exhibition of photojournalist Paolo Pellegrin's portrait work, titled 'Persona,' opens in Rome for the 25th anniversary of Officine Fotografiche, founded by Emilio D'Itri. Curated by Annalisa D'Angelo, who has collaborated with Pellegrin for years, the show explores the concept of the individual in an era of dehumanization. D'Angelo selected images based on the philosophical notion of 'persona'—the singularity, identity, and dignity of each human being. Pellegrin noted that the world is experiencing a historical enormity, with a before and after Gaza, referencing over 2 million people who protested in Italy for Gaza. Amedeo Ciaccheri, president of Rome's Municipio 10, emphasized the importance of storytelling through images to restore life amid extreme virtuality. The exhibition is held at Officine Fotografiche, a space Pellegrin describes as special and worth protecting. The archive is vast, and D'Angelo found that the portraits, including those of actors, naturally dialogued with each other. The show aims to reestablish direct contact with the individual, making the personal universal through the viewer's eyes.