Finally an interesting art initiative here in Rome. Andrea Sanguigni with the Stirato group (visit their nice website) organized Sleeping Rome, important visual artists are invited to  spend a week in Rome in order to compose artwork to be exhibited at gallery M.ATER.

A few says ago I was switching TV channels when I heard a nice tune on the french channel Antenne 2.  The song title is La realitè and is performed by an african duo, Amadou and Mariam. Their last record- dimanche a Bamako - is produced by Manu Chao.  Click here to see the videoclip. Surfing their website you can find interesting media, for instance the environmental  sounds  of the city of Bamako, Mali.  http://www.amadou-mariam.com

Tonight Passover begins. For eight days we are supposed to eat matzos instead of bread. Merry wishes for regaining freedom after 400 years of slavery. Better not to forget that Jews roamed the desert for 40 years. It was the divine punishment for the making of the golden calf.

The term Passover comes from the Bible, first mentioned in the Book of Exodus. It came into the English language through William Tyndale's translation of the Bible, and later appeared in the King James Version as well. As God pronounced to the people of Israel enslaved in Egypt that he would free them, he said he would "Smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt." However, he instructed the Israelites to put a sign of lamb's blood on their door posts: "and when I see the blood, I will pass over you." (Exodus 12:13, King James Version) The original verb in the Hebrew Torah is posach. The noun form, pesach, also appears in that same chapter, in reference to that lamb, which was sacrificed earlier that day and then eaten on that night: "and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord's passover." (Exodus 12:11, King James Version)

Although the term itself is not mentioned until the Book of Exodus, there are indications that at least parts of the feast were observed in earlier times. For example, in Genesis 19:3 reference is made to "unleavened bread" without any reason given for it. The scholar Maimonides leaves a short commentary on the end of the verse ("It was Passover" "פסח היה"), indicating that it wasn't necessarily a standard practice to prepare and eat unleavened bread, but that Lot was in a rush to serve the angels, and therefore did not have time to prepare proper, leavened bread.

The three main applicable groups of commandments associated with the holiday are: eating matzoh, or unleavened bread; the prohibition of eating any foods containing leavening during the holiday; and the retelling of the Jews' miraculous exodus from ancient Egypt (Mitzrayyim). In ancient times (until today among the Samaritans) there was a fourth: the offering of a lamb in the evening on the 14th of the Hebrew month of Nisan (also known as Aviv) and the eating that night of the Passover sacrifice. The commandment of retelling the Exodus is fulfilled through a communal ritual called the seder, celebrated on the first two evenings of the holiday (in Israel, only on the first evening). Other customs associated with Passover include eating bitter herbs and other foods specified for the seder meal. While many reasons are given for eating matzoh, the Book of Exodus explains is that it recalls the bread the Israelites ate at the time of the Exodus: in their rush to leave Egypt, they did not have time for the bread to rise.

Click on the dot ... How many images do you recognize?

It's been a long time since I've first received e-mail messages from Mouchette. Her identity is surrounded by mistery. Is her work about conceptual art or a surreal archive of suffer? Check out her website, one of the most unpleasant experiences I have ever made on the net: http://mouchette.org/index.html

Art is one of the reactions to to fear of the unknown.

...

Photomania of the Pope-day:

The Pope's funerals: St Peter helicopter surveys. Click here for other pictures 

Pongo Papaboys:

Here an interesting blog-gallery with several works in clay and pongo like the one showed up here. Click here

I'd like to develop the theme of the egoistic man that claims to be surrounded by non-egoistic people, but I have to rush to the airport  to pick up 800,000 pilgrimers.

The wait for the forthcoming Pope and the italian political earthquake make me think it's time to build up a better future. Recently I have visited the New Market near Piazza Vittorio Emanuele and I noticed,  besides the renewed structure of the building, the odd conditions of the pavements . Click to see other pics

Elections day. Today  I gave my vote then I went with my brother to visit a couple of friends of ours that seem to live in a state of serenity precluded to the most.  Therefore, between a sip of aromatic tea and a drag of apple-tobacco from the narghile, me and my brother decided to ask suggestions through the I'Ching oracle.  The I'Ching does not give you specific answers to your questions but rather reveals patterns which helps you arrive at the answer you seek. Answers are given in 64 hexagrams of solid lines (yang) and broken lines (yin). These represent a state of being..  To generate a hexagram you must form a clear question for the oracle. Think carefully and write the question down. Take any three identical coins and shake them in your cupped hand, then toss them onto a flat surface. Each throw creates one line of the hexagram. It starts from the bottom and works it's way up to the top. Keep going till you have six lines stacking one on top of the other. Some lines are so charged with positive or negative energy they can move or change into their opposite. The line positions are the fundamental building blocks of the I'Ching. You'll get two different judgements, one regards the present state, the other represents the evolution of the present state into another.  My question was:  will I ever get the  strenght to pursue my goals?

Answers: 

4. Mêng / Youthful Folly

above Kên Keeping Still, Mountainn't
below K'an The Abysmal, Water

The Judgement

Youthful Folly has success.
It is not I who seek the young fool;
The young fool seeks me.
At the first oracle I inform him.
If he asks two or three times, it is importunity.
If he importunes, I give him no information.
Perseverance furthers.

The Image

A spring wells up at the foot of the mountain:
The image of Youth.
Thus the superior man fosters his character
By thoroughness in all that he does.

40. Hsieh / Deliverance

above Chen The Arousing, Thunder
below K'an The Abysmal, Water

The Judgement

Deliverance. The southwest furthers.
If there is no longer anything where one has to go,
Return brings good fortune.
If there is still something where one has to go,
Hastening brings good fortune.

The Image

Thunder and rain set in:
The image of Deliverance.
Thus the superior man pardons mistakes
And forgives misdeeds.

For sure I'Ching was right about the first judgement...

Want to give a try yourself?
http://www.mdani.demon.co.uk/para/iching2.htm

Our Pope-Star is passing by

‘
la nona ora’, 1999
© maurizio cattelan
(photorealist sculpture of the pope struck down by
a meteorite - blasphemy turned into sacrifice.)
installation at the gallery marian goodman, new york