AUTOGRAFI DI ROMA Frottages & Squeezes

The techniques employed in the making of the Autografi di Roma borrow from two nowadays almost obsolete archaeological methods, originally devised for the study of antique inscriptions; namely the epigraphic squeeze and rubbings, also known as frottages or calques.

The discarded newspapers were first torn to small pieces and then mashed into pulp with some added starch in the water to strengthen the paper mass. Then the pulp was stirred with a blender and a A5 sieve was used to press out the liquid and to size the arches.

The concreteness of the techniques culminates in fragile and lightweight vestiges which transmit more information than what can be gained by looking at the original inscription or graffiti, conceived and crafted to withstand the wearing tooth of time.