Amidst the fire, I am not burnt Surface Reading - Arnout De Cleene – Michiel De Cleene

'On one side, a steep slope drops to meet the crater floor a few hundred meters below our feet. A bit further along the path, lined with wooden fences and ropes, an infrared camera monitors the surface temperature of the crater. Three people are talking across the central depression. The warm wind coming in from the Neapolitan Bay carries their voices over the weeds that grow irregularly among the loose, red volcanic gravel to where we are standing.'

In April 1872, Vesuvius erupted in a violent cataclysm. It is considered to be the first volcanic eruption ever photographed. Major eruptions have followed since, with the next eruption dangerously looming. Each eruption leads to the next cataclysm, each period of quiescence to forgetfulness and complacency. Amidst the fire, I am not burnt is a surface reading of the iconic landscape shaped by Vesuvius. It researches the different temporalities, scientific and popular approaches, historic and present-day photographic representations, and stories inscribed in this cyclical landscape.

Design: Roger Willem

Roma publications
English
Softcover, 162 pages
240 mm x 310 mm