(Photo Credit: Wikimedia)

Internationally renowned South African artist William Kentridge will open his most recent work – and largest to date – along the concrete embankments that line Rome’s Tiber River this Thursday, April 21, 2016. The work, entitled Triumphs and Laments: A Project for Rome, illustrates Rome’s storied past, from the mythological to present day, in a series of more than eighty friezes that stretch over 500 meters depicting historic stories related to the Eternal City. The project is in collaboration with Tevereterno, an organization dedicated to the revitalization of the historic river’s waterfront.

Sustainable Street Art

The stunning silhouette figures that highlight the scale of the enormous concrete embankments of Rome’s Tiber River are fashioned from an innovative, sustainable street art technique known as reverse graffiti. Large stencils are positioned on the embankment while the wall around them is power-washed, effectively washing the wall of its dirt and debris. Over time the figures will vanish as the natural process of urban decay re-soils the walls, creating a dialogue not only with the figures and the stories they represent but also with the urban context of contemporary Rome.

“Triumphs and Laments: A Project for Rome” by William Kentridge, along the banks of the Tiber River in Rome.

Live Opening: Thursday, April 21

The opening of the massive outdoor street art exhibit is free, open to the public, and will begin at 8:30pm with live theatrical performances (subsequent performances will take place on Friday, April 22 at 8:30pm and 10:30pm).

With the stunning 10m tall figures serving as a backdrop an original score by famous South African composers will accompany a collection of singers, dancers, and shadow performances, projecting energy, music, and spectacle from across the river where the audience is allowed to view the show. If you’d like to watch the live opening on Thursday or Friday, head to the east side of the river, opposite the art works – there are stairs that will take you down to the lower level.

Accommodation

Looking for an apartment in Rome near the Tiber River? Check out these apartments and book online – they’re just a short stroll from William Kentridge’s fascinating work!

Holiday Apartments in Trastevere – Located near Viale Trastevere, easily connected to the historic center of the city with Tram 8.

Holiday Apartments in Campo de’ Fiori – 2 apartments (I & II), nestled on a side street away from the commotion of Campo de’ Fiori.

For more information about Triumphs and Laments: A Project for Rome by William Kentridge, visit the official Tevereterno website.