Massimo Listri at The Morgan Library & Museum

December 8 '10 - January 9 '11

New York

To celebrate the completion of the most significant restoration of the McKim building, the Morgan Library is hosting an exhibition of Italian photographer Massimo Listri.

Massimo's large-format photographs document the interiors of great architectural and cultural sites. He has photographed ancient castles, villas and palaces, as well as hidden gardens, libraries, convents, monasteries, and universities.

The exhibition in New York focuses on Massimo's documentation of historic European libraries. Suitably titled "Great European Libraries: A Photoraphic Journey" the exhibition intends to enlighten visitors to the various styles and histories of the library. More interestingly, the exhibition brings together a collection of photographs documenting how design has been used, historically, to convey power and knowledge. The photographs document the opulence found amongst historic European libraries, stressing the significant role they once held in our societies.

For those of you who can't make it to New York to see the exhibition, check out the Rough Luxe Hotel in London where designer Rabih Hage intelligently employed Massimo's photographs to visually expand the spaces of the rooms and common areas.

Exhibition Website