James says ‘Looking back, every aspect of this trip is still very relevant to my practice today. My proposal was to conduct a journey of 3 aspects to explore and expand areas that motivated concepts within my work. To gain some direct experience of nomadism through walking a 300km section of the Via Francigena; to visit and film locations (which happen to be on the pilgrimage route) of Tarkovsky’s Nostalghia (1983), who’s vision had been indirectly very inspiring for me; and to take part in the vendemmia grape harvest south of Rome, observing its accompanying festivities, the ritual aspects of agricultural life. The walk proved to be the most memorable element, the backbone of the trip. Departing Siena one cold morning in autumn before sunrise, I passed through hilltop towns such as Radicofani, Bolseno, Capranica and Viterbo before arriving in Rome twelve days later. I was the guest of religious orders, stayed in convents and monasteries of elderly nuns, passed through olive groves and oak forests, and met remarkable people.’
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