The performance/installation took its inspiration from the 1904 poem „Waiting for the Barbarians“ by the Greek poet Constantine P. Cavafy.

Waiting for the Barbarians
C. P. Cavafy

What are we waiting for, assembled in the forum?

The barbarians are due here today.

Why isn’t anything going on in the Senate?
Why are the senators sitting there without legislating?

Because the barbarians are coming today.
What’s the point of senators making laws now?
Once the barbarians are here, they’ll do the legislating.

Why did our emperor get up so early,
and why is he sitting enthroned at the city’s main gate,
in the state, wearing the crown?

Because the barbarians are coming today
and the emperor’s waiting to receive their leader.
He’s even got a scroll to give him,
loaded with titles, with imposing names.

Why have our two consuls and praetors come out today
wearing their embroidered, their scarlet togas?
Why have they put on bracelets with so many amethysts,
rings sparkling with magnificent emeralds?
Why are they carrying elegant canes
beautifully worked in silver and gold?

Because the barbarians are coming today
and things like that dazzle the barbarians.

Why don’t our distinguished orators turn up as usual
to make their speeches, say what they have to say?

Because the barbarians are coming today
and they’re bored by rhetoric and public speaking.

Why this sudden bewilderment, this confusion?
(How serious people’s faces have become.)
Why are the streets and squares emptying so rapidly,
everyone going home lost in thought?

Because night has fallen and the barbarians haven’t come.
And some of our men just in from the border say
there are no barbarians any longer.

Now what’s going to happen to us without barbarians?
Those people were a kind of solution.

The White Room Song

 

I Love White

White, white, white
The only color in sight
white
Shine so bright
White

White, white, white

keep it white
keep it bright
keep the light
white, white, white

Keep it right
Light the night
with
White, white, white

Take some pride
In the color white
Go and fight
For white, white, white

White, white, white
Shinning bright
With all the might
White

Ivory white
Eggshell white
Ghost white
Vanilla white
Antique white
Cream white
Snow White
Porcelain white
Rice white
Off-white white
Oyster white
White White White

End Song

Without You

Hey, let’s close the door
We want a new life
Hey, let’s close the store
We want a new life, our old life
Without you

Hey, let’s get one thing clear
Please don’t come near
We being sincere
We want a new life, our old life
Without you

Hey, let’s shut the door
And start our new life
Hey block all the shores
And start the old life
Once more

Can’t you see the perfect picture?
The Empire gates are closed
And we, just us
Starting a new life, our old life
Without you