William Kentridge - Triumphs and Laments - 2016

“Triumphs and Laments” is not only a tribute to the monumental frieze created by William Kentridge (born 1955) along the banks of the Tiber in Rome and to the performance that inaugurated its unveiling, but also a beautifully crafted guide dedicated to one of his most memorable and ambitious projects. Inspired by the early Baedeker guides, this bilingual volume constitutes an indispensable tool for observing Kentridge's figures, which recall erased graffiti, and for understanding his creative process; the texts are accompanied by useful fanfold pages, a poster, and a concertina depicting the frieze. Among them are a conversation between Carlos Basualdo and the artist and two essays, by Salvatore Settis and Gabriele Guercio, which explore the meaning of the work and its resonance with the millennial history of the city of Rome.