URBAN 2019 @ Caffè Tommaseo, Trieste Photo Fringe (Italy)

Portfolio: “Abandoned Art in Decay” – Roman Robroek

Photos: Barbara Lei, Emanuela Bristot, Fabien Jakob, Michel Guillet, Min Jun Kim, Monica Dentoni, Rebeka Legovic, Robert Ebner, Roberto Furlan, Tommaso Fossati.

Abandoned Art in Decay  by Roman Robroek

Photographing abandoned buildings in Italy is always a pleasure. The country has a special place in my heart, and it is my favourite country to visit. In the past couple of years, I’ve regularly visited Italy to photograph the amazing architecture of abandoned buildings from North to South. During my visits, I also gathered a collection of photos of breathtaking abandoned art in or on the buildings. Some of this art even covers the whole room, including the ceiling.

Some of the art in the photos in this portfolio is described as fresco (like the one above). Fresco is a technique where freshly laid, or wet lime plaster, is painted. Water is used to ‘transport’ the dry-powder pigment to merge with the plaster, and while the plaster is setting it becomes an integral part of the wall. The result is stunning.

When looking at some of the art I discovered, you can see the high level of craftsmanship. It looks amazing and very detailed, even in this state of decay of the building. I’m very happy with that.

In the next years that I’ll be visiting Italy, I’ll make sure to continue photographing art I find in abandoned buildings.