Olympia’s Boys
The Stadio dei Marmi, located next to the Olympic Stadium in Rome, is one of the most evocative of the sports facilities included in the Foro Italico. As well as the entire architectural complex, this stadium, built in 1932, was designed by the architect Enrico Del Debbio. The suggestion of this space is due not only to the landscape in which it is inserted but also to the elegant architectural structure, characterized by huge steps surmounted by 60 white marble statues, each 4 meters high.
My choice of shots and compositions is an attempt to represent something that could go beyond the classic vision of strength and integrity that these handsome and daring athletes wanted to convey. Mine was a search for dialogue through the gazes and the hidden thoughts of the statues. From the theatrical pride to the awkward dynamism, from the swollen and corroded muscles of time, these guys seemed to speak. Shadows emphasize expressiveness. The square format helps to create a psychological dimension. The anatomical figures break down into planes and lines that suggest the presence and the rhythmic succession of the movements of the figures themselves in their athletic acts. The pseudo-solarizations and the squares recalling Cubist and Futurist stylistic features, help to free these statues from their political memory by revealing their humanity and ultimately transforming them from monumental icons to sentient and emotional images.
Sandro Lombardo
