2014
[ Video 30’ ] FHD
In 2011, after obtaining my MA, I encountered a challenging job market that prompted a focused and determined search for employment. Given the financial crisis and the scarcity of opportunities, I recognized the necessity to broaden my job search beyond my original aspirations and skill set. Embracing the belief that meaningful progress begins with small steps, I accepted a position as an au pair near Dartmoor National Park. Although this role lasted just five days, it served as a catalyst for a series of transformative journeys across the UK over the next five months. During this period, I dedicated myself to recording countless hours of film sequences and capturing a rich tapestry of sounds, which provided me with the chance to explore places and experiences I would not have otherwise encountered. As I traveled, I immersed myself in the vibrant culture and heritage of the UK, particularly drawn to the traditional stories and popular narratives surrounding William Blake’s iconic poem, "Jerusalem." This powerful work, rich with historical significance, guided me to various sites linked to both the poem and Blake's life and artistic vision, deepening my desire to physically engage with these locations. The intersection of chance encounters and deliberate exploration created an extraordinary opportunity to weave together the material I gathered into a cohesive and compelling piece. I aim to offer a personal and contemporary interpretation of Blake's "Jerusalem," bridging its historical depth with my unique experiences. Through this project, I seek to celebrate the rich narratives of the landscapes I explored, inviting others to join me in recognizing the profound connections between past and present.
"Cacophony is a juxtaposition of seemingly uncoordinated sounds, which give birth to dissonant melodies. From such an acoustic effect, so sought after during the Twentieth century, from the Futurists to Karlheinz Stockhausen, stems the first chapter of Lucia Barbagallo's video project Jerusalem cacophonia/ I. Sounds are backed up by images, in a metaphorical and literary journey to the poet William Blake's Jerusalem. The video was made with makeshift means — the artist explains — crossing on foot England and the places described in Blake's poem Did those feet in ancient time, England's second national anthem». Cacophony is intrinsic to the journey itself. Desolate frontier landscapes, where an apparent sense of abandonment is intensified by the pounding of invisible waves, the sea traceable in rotten silhouettes of small fishermen's boats stranded on a hillside. The background noise — disembodied screams, a roar of an aircraft through the sky, animate the stillness of Glastonbury's bucolic landscape, interchanged — sometimes abruptly, others after long dark moments — with urban outskirts views, those of the so-called commuter towns from the Thatcher era, scattered through London's less privileged neighborhoods. The alternation between rural and urban landscapes — the artist follows up — it's both a consequence of the journey and a deliberate choice, dictated by the intention to measure my body within a certain space, tracing its mutation and experiencing its change.
It's a tribute to the England that was and the one that will be, and to the imagery that that country has given us in time. Many images recall the work of directors like Derek Jarman. The physical journey is parallel to an inner one, which becomes a soundtrack to the visual course, driving the viewer to empathize with the artist/pilgrim. «Those are the tunes that accompanied my journey. The here and now», Barbagallo explains. Jerusalem cacophonia/ I is the result of a long and difficult journey, one of the kind that leaves its mark on a traveller, and changes him or her. The final video was edited out of 30 hours of footage — the artist wraps up — shot in 5 months.The quest of the New Jerusalem, described by Blake, becomes a journey through Barbagallo's eyes and ears, alert and sensitive witness to the intrinsic cacophony of a metamorphosis, experienced by the landscape as much as by human beings”. ~ Text by Andrea Rodi, Insideart, November 2014
This experience was undoubtedly challenging, but it played a crucial role in my personal development. After my time as an au pair in Devon and London, I spent three weeks in a shelter hostel while working as a kitchen porter in a bustling central London pub. During my only day off each week, I took the opportunity to explore new places through hitchhiking, hiking, and utilizing public transportation. Despite the difficulties and sometimes intimidating situations I faced, I now recognize that these experiences were instrumental in shaping who I am today. They not only built my resilience but also enriched my understanding of the world around me. The lessons I learned and the memories I created during this journey have had a lasting impact, continuously guiding my path forward.
"Cacophony is a juxtaposition of seemingly uncoordinated sounds, which give birth to dissonant melodies. From such an acoustic effect, so sought after during the Twentieth century, from the Futurists to Karlheinz Stockhausen, stems the first chapter of Lucia Barbagallo's video project Jerusalem cacophonia/ I. Sounds are backed up by images, in a metaphorical and literary journey to the poet William Blake's Jerusalem. The video was made with makeshift means — the artist explains — crossing on foot England and the places described in Blake's poem Did those feet in ancient time, England's second national anthem». Cacophony is intrinsic to the journey itself. Desolate frontier landscapes, where an apparent sense of abandonment is intensified by the pounding of invisible waves, the sea traceable in rotten silhouettes of small fishermen's boats stranded on a hillside. The background noise — disembodied screams, a roar of an aircraft through the sky, animate the stillness of Glastonbury's bucolic landscape, interchanged — sometimes abruptly, others after long dark moments — with urban outskirts views, those of the so-called commuter towns from the Thatcher era, scattered through London's less privileged neighborhoods. The alternation between rural and urban landscapes — the artist follows up — it's both a consequence of the journey and a deliberate choice, dictated by the intention to measure my body within a certain space, tracing its mutation and experiencing its change.
It's a tribute to the England that was and the one that will be, and to the imagery that that country has given us in time. Many images recall the work of directors like Derek Jarman. The physical journey is parallel to an inner one, which becomes a soundtrack to the visual course, driving the viewer to empathize with the artist/pilgrim. «Those are the tunes that accompanied my journey. The here and now», Barbagallo explains. Jerusalem cacophonia/ I is the result of a long and difficult journey, one of the kind that leaves its mark on a traveller, and changes him or her. The final video was edited out of 30 hours of footage — the artist wraps up — shot in 5 months.The quest of the New Jerusalem, described by Blake, becomes a journey through Barbagallo's eyes and ears, alert and sensitive witness to the intrinsic cacophony of a metamorphosis, experienced by the landscape as much as by human beings”. ~ Text by Andrea Rodi, Insideart, November 2014
This experience was undoubtedly challenging, but it played a crucial role in my personal development. After my time as an au pair in Devon and London, I spent three weeks in a shelter hostel while working as a kitchen porter in a bustling central London pub. During my only day off each week, I took the opportunity to explore new places through hitchhiking, hiking, and utilizing public transportation. Despite the difficulties and sometimes intimidating situations I faced, I now recognize that these experiences were instrumental in shaping who I am today. They not only built my resilience but also enriched my understanding of the world around me. The lessons I learned and the memories I created during this journey have had a lasting impact, continuously guiding my path forward.
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