Start Again the Lament is a powerful sound installation by artist Taryn Simon, currently on display at Cisternerne in Frederiksberg, Denmark, until November 30th, 2024. The installation delves deep into the human experience of mourning, exploring how different cultures deal with grief both individually and collectively. Simon draws from a variety of ancient lamentations, including those of the Wayuu, North Albanian, Greek Epirotic and Yazidi traditions, each with their own unique approach to death and the afterlife.
The space itself, an underground former water reservoir, amplifies the impact of the sound with its 17-second reverberation, making it feel like a descent into the underworld. As visitors move through the shadowy halls, they are enveloped by these rituals of mourning, transforming the cisterns into a vessel of collective grief and reflection. The installation raises questions about the relationship between life, death and memory, creating a powerful atmosphere of contemplation.
Simon’s work encourages visitors to slow down and become acutely aware of their surroundings and sensations, much like the mourners’ laments that fill the space. The project is curated to provoke a deep emotional response, reinforcing the timelessness and universality of grief. Those who experience the installation are left to reflect on the common human experience of loss in an immersive, otherworldly environment.
All photography by TORBEN ESKEROD and courtesy of CISTERNERNE
