Urban Bestiary is a photographic exhibition that explores a lesser-seen face of the city of Rome: that of its “monsters.” Grotesque masks, distorted faces, and fantastical creatures have inhabited portals, fountains, and facades for centuries, silently witnessing the passage of time and human life.

These decorative elements, often originally created with an apotropaic function, that is, to ward off evil, are reinterpreted in this exhibition through a contemporary lens. The “monsters” are no longer merely symbols of fear or threat, but representations of our inner anxieties, our vulnerabilities, and the shadows each individual carries within.

Through a selection of photographic details, the exhibition invites viewers to shift their perspective: what may appear disturbing or unsettling can be seen as a form of beauty, as an artistic expression, and as a testament to human complexity. In this sense, the monstrous is transformed into something familiar, even poetic.

Within the context of RAW for Peace, the exhibition presents itself as a symbolic journey: recognizing one’s fears is the first step toward overcoming them. Only by accepting what frightens us can we transform it, generating awareness and openness toward others.

Peace, in fact, is not merely the absence of conflict, but an inner process that arises from the ability to confront our own shadows. The “monsters” thus become metaphors of a shared humanity, in which differences and vulnerabilities are not elements to be rejected, but to be understood and embraced.