‘SORRY, WE’RE CLOSED’
EXHIBITION + BOOK 

During the 2020 lockdowns, Sabrina Bongiovanni started capturing the deserted shopping streets of London. The scene was uncanny and unreal: lonely mannequins posing in windows, surprised by the sudden lack of consumers, unable to sell garments nobody wanted. Empty windows, covered storefronts – some without clothes, just backdrops and displays. London became a ghost town, the proposed fashion dream fell to pieces. 

Sabrina Bongiovanni’s razor-sharp observations of an empty London come together in Sorry, we’re Closed, a series of 70 photographs that offer a personal perspective on a time of absolute stasis. A moment of reflection or maybe radical change? The images appear fresh and colourful, almost joyful – yet hide a twisted reality underneath.

Sorry, we’re Closed is presented in a 128-page soft-cover publication designed by Anna Moschioni (in an edition of 150 copies). Sabrina invited the talented writers Maurits de Bruijn and Maartje Wortel to reflect on the theme in a short story that is included in the publication.

The publication is available at republiek gallery

The book launch is accompanied by an exhibition at Republiek Gallery (Haarlemmerdijk 87, Amsterdam) from the 10th of December – the 31st of January.