LCKDN20 donation to the National Gallery
LCKDN20 donation to the National Gallery
Acclaimed Filmmaker and Photographer Giacomo Mantovani Donates Single Edition Print from LCKDN20 Project to the National Gallery
LONDON, UK, Mar. 8, 2023 – Giacomo Mantovani, an award-winning filmmaker and photographer, has donated an exclusive 1-of-1 edition print from the LCKDN20 project to the National Gallery, in London. The donation, made on Feb. 10, 2023, is a contribution to the museum's prestigious collection and is set to inspire future generations, as a reminder of the challenges and drastic changes posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
LCKDN20 is a comprehensive documentation of the empty streets of London during the COVID-19 pandemic, shot between March 30 and May 9, 2020, on medium format film (Ilford HP5 Plus) and hand-printed on fibre base paper (Ilford Multigrade Classic Glossy), at Darkroom London.
The photograph donated by Mantovani is an atmospheric image of the National Gallery — one of the most iconic landmarks in London, and one of the most important museums in the world. The moment was captured on March 30, 2020, and test-printed 45 times, from 2020 until 2023.
The print shows the National Gallery in the foreground, with its majestic facade reflected on the wet pavement below, creating a crisp and clear mirror image of the building. The absence of people in the frame adds to the eerie sense of desolation that was felt across London and many other normally bustling cities across the nation, during the pandemic.
Gabriele Finaldi, director of the National Gallery, received the donation on behalf of the National Gallery. Finaldi described the print as “an image of great elegance and poignancy,” which “documents an important time in the life of the Gallery and in the history of London.” Finaldi further described the LCKDN20 project as "an extraordinary photographic project, which is both aesthetic and documentary.”
Giacomo Mantovani, creator of LCKDN20, and Gabriele Finaldi, director of the National Gallery, during the handover of the LCKDN20 print on Feb. 10, 2023.
About Giacomo Mantovani and LCKDN20
Giacomo Mantovani is an accomplished creator known for his technical expertise and creative vision in advertising, filmmaking and photography. Originally from Capri, Italy, Mantovani moved to London in 2009 to pursue his career in the commercial sector through his creative agency, Mantovani Ltd.
Alongside his commercial work, Mantovani has been committed to producing short films that document social and environmental causes such as 'Political Asylum' (winner of Creativi per Costituzione), 'Plastic Garbage - Scourge of the Seas' (nominated for best short documentary at MoMo Film Festival), and 'Stand Up' (winner of RedCornerFestival).
When the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, Mantovani felt it was crucial to document this historic moment truthfully, which is why he used medium format film. According to Mantovani, in a digital world where everything can be manipulated, film offers a tangible record of the moment, a testament to its authenticity.
From March 30 to May 9, 2020, Mantovani captured over 1,600 pictures of the eerie beauty of abandoned streets in over 40 locations around central London, making LCKDN20 the most extensive documentation of the empty streets of London, documented on film.
LCKDN20 is a compelling and evocative collection that captures a unique moment in time through traditional analogue photography, supported by new digital technology. In fact, the project includes an augmented reality (AR) feature that enables viewers to experience a post-lockdown version of each picture using their smartphones.
For more information about LCKDN20, please visit: www.LCKDN20.com
About the National Gallery
The National Gallery is one of the most prestigious art museums in the world, located in Trafalgar Square in London, England. The museum houses an extensive collection of Western European paintings from the 13th to the 19th centuries, attracting over 6 million visitors each year.
For more information about the National Gallery, please visit: www.nationalgallery.org.uk
Press Kit
For high-resolution images of the donation, the print, and the video 'Life of a Print' — which recaps the process to produce that print — please visit this folder.
Contact:
Giacomo Mantovani