Italian photographer <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.antoniolagrotta.eu%2FAntonio_La_Grotta.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">Antonio La Grotta</a> has been capturing abandoned nightclubs that are falling apart in typically glamorous Italian fashion. "I like to photograph the unseen, the invisible, what a place suggests but does not declare openly. The discos I shot represent a complete cycle of life and death, a complete process of transformation," says La Grotta.
Incredible photos of abandoned Italian nightclubs —
Italian photographer Antonio La Grotta has been capturing abandoned nightclubs that are falling apart in typically glamorous Italian fashion. "I like to photograph the unseen, the invisible, what a place suggests but does not declare openly. The discos I shot represent a complete cycle of life and death, a complete process of transformation," says La Grotta.
Courtesy Antonio La Grotta
According to La Grotta, nightclubs in the 1980s were built outside the city, attracting suburban kids. In the 1990s, the nightlife scene changed with smaller discos opening in the downtown areas. The great discos slowly died.
Incredible photos of abandoned Italian nightclubs —
According to La Grotta, nightclubs in the 1980s were built outside the city, attracting suburban kids. In the 1990s, the nightlife scene changed with smaller discos opening in the downtown areas. The great discos slowly died.
Courtesy Antonio La Grotta
"Everything inside the disco is still and silent. Only colors remain," says La Grotta. He tries to imagine what it must have been like when the club was filled with people. "It's as if everything can be alive again for a short moment, just for me."
Incredible photos of abandoned Italian nightclubs —
"Everything inside the disco is still and silent. Only colors remain," says La Grotta. He tries to imagine what it must have been like when the club was filled with people. "It's as if everything can be alive again for a short moment, just for me."
Courtesy Antonio La Grotta
"I'm curious about transformation as a process," says La Grotta. He passes the Ultimo Impero nightclub during his daily commute. One day he decided to stop there and take a closer look. The photo series was born soon after.
Incredible photos of abandoned Italian nightclubs —
"I'm curious about transformation as a process," says La Grotta. He passes the Ultimo Impero nightclub during his daily commute. One day he decided to stop there and take a closer look. The photo series was born soon after.
Courtesy Antonio La Grotta
"In Italy it is too expensive to demolish a building," explains La Grotta. That's why the buildings are still standing, occasionally becoming rave party grounds.
Incredible photos of abandoned Italian nightclubs —
"In Italy it is too expensive to demolish a building," explains La Grotta. That's why the buildings are still standing, occasionally becoming rave party grounds.
Courtesy Antonio La Grotta
The 1980s were prosperous and people loved opulence and splendor. La Grotta saw lots of architectural elements from the Roman and Greek civilizations, as well as Egyptian motifs in the clubs.
Incredible photos of abandoned Italian nightclubs —
The 1980s were prosperous and people loved opulence and splendor. La Grotta saw lots of architectural elements from the Roman and Greek civilizations, as well as Egyptian motifs in the clubs.
Courtesy Antonio La Grotta
"Many nightclubs are closed. You cannot get inside. Other clubs are opened, doors have been forced and everything has been stolen. I'm quite sure some objects have been taken as souvenirs of past times by some nostalgic dancers," says the photographer.
Incredible photos of abandoned Italian nightclubs —
"Many nightclubs are closed. You cannot get inside. Other clubs are opened, doors have been forced and everything has been stolen. I'm quite sure some objects have been taken as souvenirs of past times by some nostalgic dancers," says the photographer.
Courtesy Antonio La Grotta
According to La Grotta, the Woodpecker nightclub was built in the 1960s. It sits on an artificial hill with a small pond and a huge fiberglass dome. The club was designed by Filippo Monti but its heydays were short-lived: "It was very humid and there were a lot of mosquitoes and frogs inside the room," says La Grotta.<br />
Incredible photos of abandoned Italian nightclubs —
According to La Grotta, the Woodpecker nightclub was built in the 1960s. It sits on an artificial hill with a small pond and a huge fiberglass dome. The club was designed by Filippo Monti but its heydays were short-lived: "It was very humid and there were a lot of mosquitoes and frogs inside the room," says La Grotta.
Courtesy Antonio La Grotta
Inside the dome, La Grotta discovered a giant work by the artist <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.streetartbio.com%2F%23%21blu%2Fc91a" target="_blank" target="_blank">Blu</a> that covers all the interior surface.
Incredible photos of abandoned Italian nightclubs —
Inside the dome, La Grotta discovered a giant work by the artist Blu that covers all the interior surface.
Courtesy Antonio La Grotta
La Grotta found the clubs through friends and Internet searches. He's now working on a photo series about the architecture of the last remaining porn cinemas in Italy. He also owns and runs the contemporary art gallery <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nopx.it%2F____NOPX_limitededitionpics____.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">NOPX</a>.
Incredible photos of abandoned Italian nightclubs —
La Grotta found the clubs through friends and Internet searches. He's now working on a photo series about the architecture of the last remaining porn cinemas in Italy. He also owns and runs the contemporary art gallery NOPX.
Courtesy Antonio La Grotta