Kilometers of arches and subterranean works were used to gather water for the ancient town of Rome throughout its own aqueducts. Now one can find fragments of them while walking downtown, or very long pieces of them leading to the outskirts of the city. Their presence is felt, mute, and constant.
An exhibition by photographer and architect Roberta Vassallo showcasing this phenomenon currently is on display through October 20 at New York University’s Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò, located at 24 W. 12th Street. It is free and open to the public; gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. For further information call 212.998.3862.
This photographic exhibition was born from a double intent: to discover how these incredible structures connect themselves to the actual city, perhaps hindering traffic, adapting to the daily circulation, hosting irregular dwellings, and overlooking Romans’ walks; and also to show how an artist can create a personal vision of these aqueducts, removed from the usual “Roman postcard.”
Vassallo, an internationally acclaimed photographer, has had her works exhibited in Florence, Paris, Buenos Aires, Lisbon, and Mexico City.