Burning with love is a relational artwork which was conceived and carried out for the Nuit Blanche in Matera. The artwork was inspired by an Afghan poem written by XVIth century mystic Mirza Khan Ansari. The poem deals with a moth’s love for the flames, which in the end throws itself into the burning fire. It is the celebration of passion and love.
After listening to the poem, people are asked to write on luminous balloons which will be launched in the sky at the end of the Nuit Blanche. Such extremely simple device allows people’s immediate participation.
- Size:
- 2800 m
- Exibition:
- Dreamland
- Organization:
- Comune di Matera e la fondazione Matera2019
- Date:
- 26 August 2017
che tu sia di tua luce amante
sono la fiamma e la falena
come verità ed amore
Per amore danzo nel fuoco,
per te l'amo, non ho altro amore
La mia passione si spegnerà
nella fiamma che consuma
Nella luce io danzo per il fuoco d'amore
Amo il fuoco per te altro amore non ho
Ora danzi nel nulla le tue nozze d'amore
in quel volo insensato brucerai le tue ali
Io ti canto bella falena
che tu sei di mia luce amante
tu non conosci la verità
il tuo volo è un 'illusione
Amo me stessa e la mia morte
con me arde il fuoco, non io nel fuoco
Quando all'alba mi spegnerò
di me traccia non resterà.
Brucio d'amore, Matera, Dreamland
The performance started when 100 helium balloons were brought into Matera’s main square and people were given markers. They immediately understood the mechanism and interacted spontaneously, in a similar way to what happens on socials, though with more poetic and deep meaning. .
Brucio d'amore, Matera, Dreamland
Being aware that their thoughts will not end up on digital platforms, full of hatred and controversy, but will be taken up in the sky, people express their noblest wishes and their deepest though short thoughts, which are often love phrases. The poem is only an inspirational device to give expression to people’s deepest part.
Brucio d'amore, Matera, Dreamland
It gives no indication about what to write, it rather suggests how to leave a part of themselves in the artwork.
Brucio d'amore, Matera, Dreamland
Brucio d'amore, Matera, Dreamland
Brucio d'amore, Matera, Dreamland
Brucio d'amore, Matera, Dreamland
Brucio d'amore, Matera, Dreamland
Brucio d'amore, Matera, Dreamland
Brucio d'amore, Matera, Dreamland
Brucio d'amore, Matera, Dreamland
Brucio d'amore, Matera, Dreamland
Brucio d'amore, Matera, Dreamland
Brucio d'amore, Matera, Dreamland
Brucio d'amore, Matera, Dreamland
Brucio d'amore, Matera, Dreamland
Brucio d'amore, Matera, Dreamland
Brucio d'amore, Matera, Dreamland
Brucio d'amore, Matera, Dreamland
