Liliana Moro, né in cielo né in terra

In the evening of June 7, 2018 we opened the doors of previous HQ in Spear Mews to the public, on the occasion of the presentation, in collaboration with ALMANAC, London of né in cielo né in terra, an artist’s book by Liliana Moro.

Liliana Moro has taken part to the Trust’s activities since its very inception: she was one of the participant artists to the first edition of Volcano Extravaganza in 2011, as well as the third lecturer of our ongoing series Lezioni d’Italiano (Last Tape, 2014) and a contributor to the first part of Total Anastrophes, the eighth edition of our yearly festival which we initially presented at the Dhaka Art Summit (2018).

Upon welcoming our guests with an elderflower cordial infused with fresh mint leaves and sparkling water, Trust’s Director Milovan Farronato introduced the conversation, which unfolded between him, ALMANAC Founder Guido Santandrea and the artist, whose words were gracefully translated by the Trust’s Assistant Curator Marina La Verghetta.

“né in cielo né in terra” is a widespread expression in the Italian language, which could be translated as “neither in the sky nor on earth”. Although in its popular connotation is mostly used to indicate an unlikely possibility, if not a prohibition, within the body of work of Moro it is re-contextualised, acquiring the meaning of something which lies in a state of suspension—like a distant observer. This indeed is both the actual and metaphorical position of the artist, formalised through the series of photographs presented in the book. Six semi-aerial landscapes, within which sits the line of the horizon, or the silhouette of an island, separating the terrestrial from the astral. The gaze is almost suspended in the instant between the past and the future, becoming a delicate thread, a connection and a leitmotif.

“Who gave us the sponge to wipe away the entire horizon? What were we doing when we unchained this earth from its sun? Where is it moving to now? Where are we moving to? Away from all suns? Are we not continually falling? And backwards, sidewards, forwards, in all directions? Is there still an up and down? Aren’t we staying as though through an infinite nothing? Isn’t empty space breathing at us?”

Friedrich Nietzsche, The Gay Science, 1882

né in cielo né in terra is a book by Liliana Moro produced by ALMANAC, London/Turin with the support of the Arts Council England, Grants for the Arts and Galleria Francesco Pantaleone. The design of the book, which was printed through Friends Make Books, is by Lina Ozerkina.

For both our first time guests and some of the regulars, this was also a propitious chance to explore George Henry Longly’s Toxungenous Activities, a site-specific commission throughout which Longly created a new skin for our office venue.

All photos Matilde Cerruti Quara