Triumphs and Laments {Museums in Rome}

I have been a fan of South African artist William Kentridge for a long time.  His complicated works, so full of movement are both whimsical and provocative. Luckily for me Kentridge has a close relationship with Rome. His most recent project, which has been getting a lot  of attention is an astonishing 550 meter long frieze that unfolds along the flood blanks of the Tevere river called Triumphs and Laments.

Set between the Ponte Sisto and Ponte Garibaldi bridges the images of Roman history are reverse graffiti created by washing away the grime to leave an image. It is absolutely extraordinary and it is a delight to walk along the river and decipher the images both ancient and modern ranging from Bernini angels, to Rome's iconic she-wolf to a murdered Pasolini. This large scale public art project is there for you see 24/7 until it literally disappears under a new layer of Roman grime. You have about a decade. 

If you would like a closer, more detailed look at the process behind the work visit Project Rooms #1 and #2 at the MACRO museum on via Nizza. There are scale models of every figure of the frieze sketched and as intricate paper cutouts as well as a few full sized stencils. Many of the scktechd are done on the pages of old South Africa ledger books from the late 1800's with Kentdridge's own hand overload on the deliberate flourish of script detailing storeroom stock. There is also an inventive and amusing short video where the artists describes his vision. This is a very small exhibit, but packed with detail. You have until October 2. 

MACRO
via Nizza 138
Closed Mondays