Equilibrium

A nameless graphic designer is haunted by the concentration camp in which he was once interned and retreats to a rural villa to decorate the rooms with arrows, signs, advertisements, and invent a new typeface. He returns to Milan and loses his job and acquires a mistress, confusing her with his wife and the memory of the young, Czech woman he abandoned at the end of the war. Equilibrium is a powerful and visual account of a truly (post-)modern man.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 152 pages
Publication date: 30 September 2020
Publisher: MOIST

I had managed to escape from the clutches of ordinary and mundane existence, which encompassed a plethora of elements such as towering skyscrapers, cigar-smoking industrialists, linoleum, plastics, television, westerns, and marijuana. These were the things that had filled my life with familiarity and monotony, and I yearned for something more.

In my pursuit of a different kind of existence, I had either witnessed or heard about these ordinary and mundane aspects of society. However, I cared little about their perceived goodness or badness; my focus was solely on escaping their grasp.

A nameless graphic designer, haunted by the memories of his time in a concentration camp, found solace in a rural villa. There, he immersed himself in his past, obsessing over the economic miracle of Italy and the country's present-day circumstances. Driven by his insatiable curiosity, he adorned the rooms with arrows, signs, advertisements, and even invented a new, purposefully incomprehensible typeface. His creative energies were focused on devising a marketing campaign for stones, a peculiar obsession that consumed him.

However, upon his return to the bustling city of Milan, life took an even more unbalanced turn. He lost his job, and in an attempt to fill the void left by his professional setbacks, he sought solace in the arms of a mistress. Yet, as time passed, he found himself confused, unable to distinguish between his wife and the memory of the young Czech woman he had abandoned at the end of the war.

Tonino Guerra, renowned for his screenwriting prowess, worked with some of the most influential filmmakers of his time, including Michelangelo Antonioni, Federico Fellini, and Andrei Tarkovsky. While he is best known for his contributions to cinema, Guerra was also a poet and fiction writer. To commemorate the centenary of his birth, his works have been reissued, and a new introduction by acclaimed cultural critic Michael Bracewell has been added.

Equilibrium, a testament to Guerra's unique perspective and artistic brilliance, remains a relevant and powerful account of a truly (post-)modern man. It offers a glimpse into the mind of a man who sought to escape the ordinary and mundane, exploring the depths of his creativity, obsessions, and the complexities of his inner world. Through his vivid and evocative prose, Guerra invites readers to embark on a journey of self-discovery and reflection, challenging them to explore the boundaries of their own lives and seek a sense of equilibrium in a world that often feels chaotic and overwhelming.

Weight: 158g
Dimension: 120 x 190 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781913430016
Edition number: New ed