We have Daniel Spoerri’s literary education to thank for the lovely German translation of the Italian title »Poeticamente abita l’uomo« (Man lives poetically). He is an admirer of Friedrich Hölderlin and in his youth he learnt the poet’s lyrics off by heart. He was spontaneously reminded of one particular line when Graziano Pompili decided on the title of his sculpture »…und dichterisch wohnet der Mensch« – it mirrors the fragility and uncertainty of human existence, in the face of which it appears ironic to speak of a »fixed residential town« just because one can build houses out of stone. Pompili’s installation, however, is more than just a house metaphor. The stone slabs are also reminiscent of a tomb or a Roman sarcophagus.

We have Daniel Spoerri’s literary education to thank for the lovely German translation of the Italian title »Poeticamente abita l’uomo« (Man lives poetically). He is an admirer of Friedrich Hölderlin and in his youth he learnt the poet’s lyrics off by heart. He was spontaneously reminded of one particular line when Graziano Pompili decided on the title of his sculpture »…und dichterisch wohnet der Mensch« – it mirrors the fragility and uncertainty of human existence, in the face of which it appears ironic to speak of a »fixed residential town« just because one can build houses out of stone. Pompili’s installation, however, is more than just a house metaphor. The stone slabs are also reminiscent of a tomb or a Roman sarcophagus.