ALÍPIO C NETO & RACHELE GIGLI
“THE HUMAN ELEMENT” / “L’ELEMENTO UMANO”
The work by Alípio C Neto & Rachele Gigli is a sound and immagetic narrative organized in three parts, three “stanze” (stanza 1, 2 and 3). The word “stanza” has a double meaning in Italian - a poetic form and also “room”. It tells about the formation and emancipation of the human element’s consciousness and its fusion with Nature.
"l'elemento umano si allunga e si accorcia"*
N.O.F. 4
*“the human element stretches and shortens”
Everything starts with the experience of Fernando Nannetti, patient of the former Volterra Psychiatric Hospital who signed “N.O.F. 4” in his graffiti and defined himself a medium of a superior consciousness from which he heard voices and transcribed messages for humanity. Writing and signs are road, journey and tool to access the knowledge of the Universe and to communicate it. The Universe is represented by the triangle, the square and the circle. As in Sengai Gibon’s (1750-1837) famous zen painting, the triangle represents the man, the human body, the physical, mental and spiritual aspect. The square reflects the four elements: earth, water, air and fire. The circle embodies the infinity and the emptiness from which all things take shape. “The human element” is inspired by the symbolical forms represented in Nannetti’s graffitis.
The film was shot at the former Volterra Psychiatric Hospital, at Poggio Santa Cecilia in Rapolano Terme and at the Biancane Geothermal Park in Monterotondo Marittimo.