Ittekimasu | ADM Singapore 8.2007
Upon arriving in Singapore the first project we staged summed up the journey to this place. The building of ADM was an ideal setting for me & kaatje to cathartically push a pretend boulder up and summon up the myth of Sisyphus. So we sweated and pushed and rolled and chased and did it over and over, so the name became Ittekimasu, which means 'i'll be back', in Japanese. It was good. Healing. We did it as a threesome, the little family in black in the new and intense crazy tropical heat.
Somehow the mountain settled on me then and for the last year and a half I've been dragging my research and family up hills and mountains and pushing upwards. It's been rather extraordinary where the research has led—from the ADM rooftop to Wat Tham Suea, to Borobudur and Angkor Wat. More recently we climbed TaiShan and are headed to HuaShan this summer. I'll go much further in detail in the mountain chapter. but what i wanted to mention is that it started here with Sisyphus.
Kal edited the footage and we were invited and submitted to the MilkBar International Film Festival where it was well received and has been listed as an avant garde film.
I made a book out of it, which I've yet to exhibit. I'm thinking of a whole room dedicated to the video posters and book...a yellow green and black event.
Ittekimasu | ADM Singapore 8.2007what surprised me in the story of Sisyphus is the reason he was punished. It was often said that Zeus took the form of an eagle and abducted Aegina, taking her to an island near Attica, then called Oenone; henceforth known by her name. Aegina’s father Asopus chased after them; his search took him to Corinth, where Sisyphus was king. Sisyphus, having chanced to see a great bird bearing a maiden away to a nearby island, informed Asopus. Though Asopus pursued them, Zeus threw down his thunderbolts, sending Asopus back to his own waters. Aegina eventually gave birth to her son Aeacus, who became king of the island. For his troubles, Sisyphus was punished in Hades by having to forever roll a stone uphill which continually rolled back down before he could complete his task.
What is fascinating is this: Historically the island Egina rivaled Athens. It was the sea trade power spot (like Singapore). Athens did not like the competition. Aegina was the daughter of the sea god Asopus. Was she the primary goddess or original goddess of the island? Is she a hint of an earlier culture that was raped and shaped by the dominant colonist (symbolized by Zeus) mainland power?
She was pursued by eagle Zeus. the shape shifting patriarchal seed planter and rapist and her offspring, Aeacus became the ‘founder’ or first king. The tradition of powerful women baring god seed and birthing leaders is not unique to the ancient greco-roman culture. we live under this tradition through Mary & Jesus today. So now a man is in charge, a man half Zeus. half Greek. but not all is well. Hera (good cop/bad cop marriage) is punitive. I guess I become fascinated in the rivalry of Athens and wonder if myths are not propaganda and historical. because it is stated that later Athens came and squashed the island, as it is also later that Hera comes and kills all of it’s inhabitants. they are then replaced by clone like, drone like worker ant robotic like workers. what a freaky story. what exactly was the role of Sisyphus, the woman Aegina, Athens, Zeus and the geographic rivalry? i wonder.
What is fascinating is this: Historically the island Egina rivaled Athens. It was the sea trade power spot (like Singapore). Athens did not like the competition. Aegina was the daughter of the sea god Asopus. Was she the primary goddess or original goddess of the island? Is she a hint of an earlier culture that was raped and shaped by the dominant colonist (symbolized by Zeus) mainland power?
She was pursued by eagle Zeus. the shape shifting patriarchal seed planter and rapist and her offspring, Aeacus became the ‘founder’ or first king. The tradition of powerful women baring god seed and birthing leaders is not unique to the ancient greco-roman culture. we live under this tradition through Mary & Jesus today. So now a man is in charge, a man half Zeus. half Greek. but not all is well. Hera (good cop/bad cop marriage) is punitive. I guess I become fascinated in the rivalry of Athens and wonder if myths are not propaganda and historical. because it is stated that later Athens came and squashed the island, as it is also later that Hera comes and kills all of it’s inhabitants. they are then replaced by clone like, drone like worker ant robotic like workers. what a freaky story. what exactly was the role of Sisyphus, the woman Aegina, Athens, Zeus and the geographic rivalry? i wonder.
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