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Stupenda Monotonia del Mistero is a video collection documenting readings of the Pasolini poem “Diario.” During my stay in the city I asked Roman residents I met to spontaneously read the poem wherever they happened to be, which was often, but not always, at work. They frequently responded with enthusiasm to the poem itself and to Pasolini, the man, "una bella persona,” who celebrated the marginal. As an artist and a visitor who doesn't speak Italian I asked for a favour which was repeatedly, graciously, gracefully granted. Readers in subsequent conversation tended to affirm the absolute importance and interdependence of ethics and aesthetics for all. The readings are unique and intimate while also revealing the existence of a highly conscious public experience. Internal formal repititions of the poem reflecting thought on the non-progressive nature of existence are echoed in the repititions of the readings.

DIARIO

Adulto? Mai – mai, come l'esistenza

che non matura – resta sempre acerba,

di splendido giorno in splendido giorno -

io non posso che restare fedele

alla stupenda monotonia del mistero.

Ecco perche, nella felicita

non mi sono abbondonato – ecco

perche nell'ansia delle mie colpe

non ho mai toccato un rimorso vero.

Pari, sempre pari con l'inespresso,

all'origine di quello che io sono.

Translation by Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Francesca Valente:

DIARY

Grown up? Never--never--!

Like existence itself

which never matures

staying always green

from splendid day to splendid day--

I can only stay true

to the stupendous monotony

of the mystery.

That's why I've never abandoned myself

to happiness,

that's why

in the anxiety of my sins

I've never been touched 

by real remorse.

Equal, always equal,

to the inexpressible

at the very source

of what I am.