September 17th, 2015 – From South Africa to Rome, William Kentridge brings back to life the triumphs and laments of the Eternal City. The artist, known and appreciated throughout the world for the evocative power of his works, is presenting “Triumphs and Laments,” a great piece of art that is site-specific and was developed specifically for the banks of the river Tiber between Ponte Mazzini and Ponte Sisto. The 550-meter long frieze will tell the great history of Rome in 80 figures 10 meters high, which “will emerge” from the biological patina accumulated on the walls of white travertine that surround the Tiber. Hercules killing Cacus, the Winged Victory, the death of Remo alongside that of Pasolini, and Marcello Mastroianni kissing Anita Ekberg in the Trevi fountain: these are the triumphs and sorrows that Kentdrige will revive on the Tiber bank, decorations destined to fade away after 3 years. The work will be presented to the public with a free musical and theater event, in collaboration with the musician and composer Philip Miller, in a two-day inauguration event scheduled for April 21-22, to celebrate Rome’s Christmas and the Jubilee. “Triumphs and Laments” is a project promoted by the non-profit organization Teveretermo, sponsored by the City of Rome, th Lazio Region, Mibact, with the cultural support of the Embassy of the United States of America, the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa and the American Academy.
