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For five years, Rome’s majestic exhibition hall, the Palazzo delle Esposizioni on Via Nazionale, has been closed for restoration. Originally designed by the architect Pio Piacentini and inaugurated in 1883, the Palazzo (or Palaexpo) has been host to some of Rome’s most important art exhibits and cultural events. When closed for restoration in 2002, the building was greatly in need of modernization and repair, and as often is the case, these works have taken significantly longer than expected. Thus, Romans were quite delighted with the recent announcement that the Palaexpo will finally reopen on 4 October and that its reopening will be celebrated with a major exhibition of the works of painter Mark Rothko that will run until 7 January 2008. (See here for our previous post on Rothko posters around Rome).

Yet, just because the Palazzo delle Esposizioni is currently closed doesn’t mean that it’s not serving its purpose! As part of Rome’s ongoing International Photography Festival, the facade of the Palaexpo hosts a photography exhibit by artist Patrizia Bonanzinga that is aptly titled “Lavori in corso” or “Work in Progress.” Huge collages mounted on the front of the building are made up of compellingly detailed photos that document the extensive restoration project going on inside the building. About her desire to share these usually invisible scenes with the public, Bonanzinga says:

I am interested in investigating these passing stages in which space is decomposed and then later recomposed in another form. So I use a photographic montage that I create in a large format, consisting in numerous images, and printed on large surfaces…

The exhibit will be on display until 31 August 2007.