Over and over again
We walk the same steps
We repeat mistakes
drawing spirals
We repeat rhythms
Over and over again
Individual
a different sign.
My trace marks my passage
Shows that I existed
The footprint overlaps the one that preceded it
and the one before
and the one even before.
Over and over again
We leave the same traces
with the illusion that they don't get confused with those that already
were there
that they won’t be erased
by whom will step on the same land
Over and over again
The Italian historian and philosopher Giambattista Vico (Naples, 1668 –1744) affirmed that the human being, despite the change of epochs and socio-cultural contexts, is always equal to himself.
According to Vico, individual and social reasons and behaviors are presented constantly, repetitively but in different degrees, in all the moments of history: " The Courses and Recourses of History”.
In other words, the traces we leave are very similar to those that have already been left and to the ones that will be left.Since the mankind's first appearance on earth, approximately 2.1 million years ago, until now, more or less 84 000 generations have passed through this planet.(Considering 4 generations every 100 years; 2 100 000 x 4 / 100= 84 000).
Traces of our passage across this planet are too evident, shocking and destructive, so probably mankind will not keep crossing the earth for many more generations before its disappearance.Starting from Vico's affirmation and within this disastrous current scene, this performance arises as an attempt of reflection and investigation on the following questions:
- What traces would we like to leave as individuals and as a community during our passage through the earth Vs. what traces we're actually leaving?
- How much can the path of a person diversify from the one of the community to which he/she belongs?
- How much the traces that an era leaves differ from those left by the preceding eras and from those that the following ones will leave?
Traccia has been released in KIPAF2020 (Kolkata International Performance Art Festival 2020).