Rihla (The Journey) – was the short title of a
14th Century (1355 CE) book written in Fez by the Islamic legal scholar Ibn
Jazayy al-Kalbi of Granada who recorded and then transcribed the dictated travelogue
of the Tangerian, Ibn Battuta. The book’s full title was A Gift to Those who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels
of Travelling and somehow the title of Ibn Jazayy's book captures the ethos
of many of the city and country journeys I have been lucky to take in past
years.
This rihla is about Rome and its people.
In Rome recently for a conference I was heading early one morning to the
Piazza d.Republicca Metro station along the Via Nazionale.
Outside the Palazzo Delle Exposizioni there were large posters advertising a
retrospective exhibition for the French photographer Robert Doisneau; famous for
his scenes of every-day life in Paris and particularly for his now infamous Le
baiser de l’hotel de Ville (The Kiss) which resulted in two law suits over its
‘staging’ and the identities of the couple involved. I thought about Doisneau’s
work as I headed towards the soulless conference centre at Fiera de Roma near
the airport and promised myself some time to try and capture some Roman scenes
the following afternoon. These are the result and if by chance any of the
people captured recognise themselves (particularly the young couple kissing)
please get in touch.
