Incubo Succubo (2004) Steel characters – variable dimensions
Incubo (2004) Stainless steel cm 18×92
Macerata, Men, Only Men, Simply Men, curated by Antonello Tolve, Macerata Academy of Fine Arts’ Gallery – GABA, June 2019
Ancona, Vertigo of Reality, curated by Gabriele Tinti, Mole Vanvitelliana, February 2012
Turin, In Sede: 25 artisti per luoghi non comuni, curated by Francesco Poli, City of Turin’s Culture Services Division, February 2005
Turin, In Sede: 25 artisti per luoghi non comuni, curated by Francesco Poli, City of Turin’s Culture Services Division, February 2005
Turin, In Sede: 25 artisti per luoghi non comuni, curated by Francesco Poli, City of Turin’s Culture Services Division, February 2005
Incubo Succubo is a wall installation which re-establishes the link between these two Italian words by recalling their origin rooted in Christian demonology.
The Italian words incubo (nightmare) and succubo (dominated) are both of Latin derivation. I learned that they share a common demonological origin by reading Là-Bas, a novel by Joris-Karl Huysmans full of information on the most bizarre Christian doctrines, as well as on occultism, and exotericism in general. In Italian, this connection has been lost: incubo has retained the nocturnal and dreamlike quality of the demon Incubus, while succubo, or more commonly succube, retains the sense of being subject to the will of others, just as once upon a time an unfortunate believer was victim to the Succubus.
Incubo Succubo is an installation in which the two words face each other from two opposing walls, or are arranged on two corner walls, but always in a way to re-establish the bond between them. The words are made of polished steel and are placed very high, so no living person will ever be able to see their own reflection.
© Cristiano Berti
2024
In Christian demonology the words Incubo and Succubo described two evil creatures who invade the dreams of believers: the Incubus having sexual intercourse with women, the Succubus with men. This meaning is now lost in current usage of Italian language.
The two words in stainless steel characters are placed one in front of the other, or on corner walls.
Incubo Succubo (2004): Installation made of two words with characters in polished steel, on a wall, forming a single work
Stainless steel, cm 18 x 92 (Incubo), cm 18 x 120 (Succubo). Edition of 3
2012
Vertigo of Reality, curated by Gabriele Tinti, with a text by Luigi Fassi, Mole Vanvitelliana, Ancona, Italy
2019
Men, Only Men, Simply Men, curated by Antonello Tolve, Macerata Academy of Fine Arts’ Gallery – GABA, Macerata, Italy
2005
In Sede. 25 artisti per luoghi non comuni, curated by Francesco Poli, City of Turin’s Culture Services Division, Turin, Italy
2019
Perugini, Giulia, «Uomini, Uomini, Uomini», Exibart.com, August 16
Cristiano Berti. Vertigine del Reale/Vertigo of Reality, exhibition catalogue, Turin: Allemandi (ISBN 978-88-422-2104-3), pp. 42 – 45, 160
2005
Gili, Angiola Maria, «Arte e spazio pubblico. Gli uffici di Comune e Provincia ospitano ‘In Sede e ‘Il Corridoio’», Torino Sette, 823: March 4 – 10 (insert of La Stampa, Turin, CXXXIX, 62: March 17), p. 71
Poli, Francesco, In Sede. 25 artisti per luoghi non comuni, exhibition flyer, Turin: City of Turin