© Xavier Ribas - MMDCCLXI A.V.C. (2008) 3 C-Type prints size 121 x 155 cm each (triptych), text. Edition of 3 - PDF
HIC
VIDENTUR
ANTIQVAE
RVINAE
ROMANAE
PEDES PLVS
MINVS XX
SVB STRATO
ORIGINALI
SITAE
TARRACONE MENSE
MAIO, A.V.C. M M D C C L
Here lie the stones of ancient roman ruins, approximately twenty meters below its original strata. In Tarragona month of May 1997
Seven photographers were invited to make work on the historical and archaeological heritage of the city of Tarragona. Tárraco, mirada actual was presented as an exhibition and a catalogue at the Fundació Caixa de Tarragona in January 2008 featuring all the commissions work by Jordi Bernadó, Bleda y Rosa, Toni Catany, Joan Fontcuberta, Jorge Ribalta, Xavier Ribas and Lluís Vives.
MMDCCLXI A.V.C.* is a triptych showing three views of the archaeological remains located in the underground car park of a shopping mall in the city of Tarragona. The site preserves part of a pre-Christian necropolis and of a Roman villa found on the site during the construction of the underground car park. The remains had to be removed during the works and were later relocated in the lower level of the car park, some twenty meters below its original level. This sudden descent of the ancient structures to deeper geological strata, a kind of 'negative excavation', represents a regression in time of thousands of years. Equally, this acceleration of time, now forward, can also be perceived by the rapid deterioration of the remains due to carbon monoxide from the cars. The site is now open to the public every business day from 5 till 8 pm (entrance free).
© Xavier Ribas (2008)
* MMDCCLXI A.V.C is the year 2008 in the Roman calendar, which starts from the year of the foundation of Rome in 753 BC. AVC stands for Ab urbe condita, 'from the founding of the city'.
Tàrraco. Mirada Actual, Fundació Caixa de Tarragona, tarragona 2008
MMDCCLXI A.V.C. Detail photograph 1
MMDCCLXI A.V.C. Detail photograph 2