PAPER PEOPLE – portrayed in Rome
Today’s portfolio is a series on paper people looking out on Rome from posters and such.
It illustrates three current trends: street artists are increasingly photocopying artwork and pasting it on the walls rather than stencilling it in spray paint; Italy’s growing presence of foreign-born people; and of courseĀ Italians’ perennial and unending obsession with beauty.

This enticing poster is written in a well-blended mix of Spanish, Italian and Roman spelling. Esquilino, Rome.

Most spanish posters appeal primarily to the many Ecuadorians and Peruvians (as well as of other origins) now living in Rome. Most announce disco parties, concerts, and soccer ‘futbol’ tournaments. Esquilino, Rome.

A lovely Jane Alexander looking out from a retro-style beer poster, Miscellanea pub and restaurant, Rome.

Sexy Moschino poster – actually looking straight at the building that houses Valentino’s atelier. Piazza di Spagna, Rome.

Sometimes – rarely – the pursuit of beauty can be culturally useful. Poster advertising a show on spain’s great artist salvador dali’. Via dei Fori Imperiali, Rome.

Did i mention italians’ obsession with beauty? Handsome priest (!) on the cover of a 2013 calendar by Piero Pazzi. Pantheon, Rome.
Photographs taken in springtime 2012, rome, italy.
Alessandro Ciapanna