Yebwiersma - Like A City Seen From A Distance

Like A City Seen From A Distance¹ - Artistic Research exploring the diverse features, characteristics and narratives of the Mostra D'Oltremare² Complex. Built during the Fascist Regime in Naples, Italy. Resulting in a Site Specific Installation. Coming up next year at the Glass Pavilion at Mostra D'Oltremare, Naples. Including Photo, Film Still Projections, Dialogues and Soundtrack. Other research sites inlcuded: Naples Music Conservatory and Campi Flegrei, Pozzuoli.






Fragment I - Stof waait op. In de verte trillen onzekere bouwsels. 

Mijn vingers ruiken rottig. Indringend, ongetemd. Natuurlijk. Ik vergat het broeierige klontje met gele staketsels uit mijn zak te halen. Nu is het te laat. Terwijl ik dichterbij kom, inhaleer ik de licht ontvlambare nevel. Van verderop gelegen gesteente. 
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1. Like a city seen from a distance (Come una città vista da lontano) was taken from the introduction page of John Cheevers' short story: The Swimmer. - It was one of those Midsummer Sundays when everyone sits around saying, 'I drank too much last night,' it is a beautiful summer day, and a large white cloud like a city seen from a distance is on the horizon..

2. Mostra d'Oltremare was opened as the Triennial Exhibition of Italian Overseas Lands in 1940. At the time the facilities were 36 exhibition pavilions set in green areas, rich in herbs imported from the colonies Italy had at the time; each pavilion recreated one of the overseas colonies, in every aspect [habitat, flora, architecture]. Since then numerous pavilions have been destructed and delipidated. Overgrown by nature. Today Mostra D'oltremare is in the process of a make-over. The stadium and Olympic Swimming facilities present are being repolished and open again to the public. 

Above, Scene I: Flegrean Fields, Pozzuoli - A sulphur haze introduces the story..

Left, Scene II: A man appears on stage. According to Greek- and Roman Mythology it was here where the entrance to Hades was located. Location: Pozzuoli, Italy. Mostra D'Oltremare is tucked away between Pozzuoli and the old city centre of Naples.

Scene V – Film Still -
Stadium Arena Flegrei resting

This is Naples. Our story could have happened in any other big city, in any other country, on any other continent, but our story takes place here. Among people who are both worried and yet untroubled. Happy and sad. Cold and passionate. 

The drama unravels here dragging our characters into an ever growing tension:

I: Are you craving for affection?
II: …Aren’t you?
I: [silence]…You don’t know what it feels like to weigh the years in vain…
[Free Transscript of Trailer LA NOTTE
by Michelangelo Antonioni]