A visit to Berlin, for us the first time since 2003, always brings a search for the past. What was built, what was destroyed, what restored. What are the echos…
“Meeting the past we noticed the dogmas
painted by forgotten doges on enamel plates
in a Berlin impasse.”
eine kleine Gasse in Berlin
“It is a fossil expression
appropriate for the time”
warning
“Washing and fill up with fuel of your vehicle is forbidden at this property”
Buzzing mobile phones, steered by logarithms dictated by emperors that tear society apart were left behind. There are still ‘quiet’ places where insects tell other news. Those that survived the pest of ecocidal chemicals.
Web
catch
A heathy landscape harbors spiders / catching pollen-spreading bees.
Organic
Bark
The bark was fissured / a voice lamented /
blown apart,
yet unheard amidst / the turmoil, basic /
at an organic / glorification.
(photos and texts by Drager Meurtant, September 12-13, 2025)
In the summer of 2010 we made plan to hike in ‘greatest and wildest natural mountain park of Western Europe’.
By train arriving in Milano end of August 2010, the two of us checked in at Hotel Berna and had one day to explore the city.
Milano Cathedralwaiting for connection (Arona)
The third day a train took us to Premosello, and we hitch-hiked to Colloro. From there we walked to camp at alm of Chapella Madonna di Lut.
There the sole of one shoe turned out to be completely broken. We had to return and then take train to Domodossola to buy new shoes. Next attempt started in Mergozzo and we walked via Bracchio, towards Vercio with Sanctuaria Di Madonna de Grazio (camp). A lady very early in the morning sang for hours.
L’Oratorio della Beata Vergine delle Grazie
From there a long walk in beautiful mountain area and forest followed. On the way we passed many abandoned houses, alone on itself or in small group.
Forest and mountains in Parco Nazionale de Val GrandeAlong the way, house of farmer
Our path continued via Cortecca to Alpa Ompio, from there north to Alpe Basseno then down to bridge “Ponte di Velina” crossing ravine with river, and further north to Velina and Baserga. A sign indicated that in 1944 partisans escaped from nazis with 50 prisoners at an enduring trek through these mountains.
Baserga, hide-out for partisans in WW-II (if memory is right…)
Route went further N. East to Baserga (signs indicating risky passage), Alpe Vota, Montazzo, a overgrown abandoned hamlock. The path became stairs and had steep crossings of rivulets.
note the sign…
Along the way we did encounter several abandoned houses in the woods.
someone created stone creatures…
At sundown and over 14 hours on the way we arrived at Corte de Merino, where we could set up the tent and have simple dinner.
In the morning the trail went to Cicogna, then followed sentiero Struttenheim (1891) towards Pogallo, where we had camp along the Rio Pogallo.
Rock cairn or stone man
Return was to Cigogna with several steep mountain clefts.
A mountain cleft of hundreds of feet…A river deep down
Then we went all the paved way to Rovegro (no hitch hike available), a village that looked like poverty ruled. There old roman way did lead us to Cossogno, after passing the “Ponte Romano di Cossogno e Cascate”.
Ancient houses
In this village citizens allowed us to camp on small terrace of the Campo de Sport for our last night in the mountains…
Camp in Cossogno
From Cossogno we hiked to Verbania where we took ferry across the Lago Maggiore to Baveno and boarded train to Milano.
On the ferry towards Baveno
Photos by Drager Meurtant 2010, analog film, taken with Chinon compact camera and Fuji film
How to deal with stupidity is an issue / that arises frequently these days. // Can one battle stupidity, or is it best ignored.
Can one convince stupidity to lay off / to stop breathing or kill it self / any other way.
That´s the issue.
blood is iron
“Blood is iron, in essence. // Because of it’s stream and smell. // But I rather see the spill / from rusting tubes than from blood / which today leaks from pure stupidity.”
From upstairs
The title responds to our / sense of reason. // Now imagine someone trying to push up / these blocks of concrete / even if aerated.
The greater the distance / or the darker the surrounding / the bigger the sense of futility / of longing for the unreachable. (from the writings of the poet Malcolm Eduard Lionel Alfred Nicotene Cholious)
images and texts Drager Meurtant (2013, 2016, 2025)
Once buildings start to crumble / and walls start to tumble / then true beauty is revealed. // One must seek for a second / and split structures into basic elements. // This brings us to insight” (Oppenheimer contemplating about The Big One).
Wanneer gebouwen verpulveren / en muren instorten / dan komt de ware schoonheid tevoorschijn. // Je moet een seconde nemen / om daarna de structuur in basale elementen te splitsen. // Dat brengt ons inzicht. (Overweging van Oppenheimer over The Big One).
An empty prison comes in place / where glue runs past a stone’s cast. // No, people, / that is not for understanding / that is for nót understanding / where we stand without ground / under our feet.
Een leeg gevang komt te staan / waar lijm voorbij een steenworp holt. // Neen mensen: dat is niet om te begrijpen / dat is om níet te begrijpen / waar we staan zonder grond / onder onze voeten is.
Photos taken by Drager Meurtant in old Leather Factory Oisterwijk, NL, February 4, 2014
The idea was to make a short trip to Paris by bus at the end of November 2023. Calculated time of departure 9.30 hours, which became 9.50 hours.
This seems like a dull road trip, at 2 hours 30 minutes on the way, N BelgiumA17 in N France, 4 hours on the wayAbout 4 hours and one minute on the way, now in N FranceHigh way in N France, 5 hours and a minute on the way
On this road hoping for good or better / while seated on the front row in a bus / heading for La Ville Lumière (the City of Light) / rain came pouring, slashing the windows / and changing the experience into murk and flashing screen scenes / of viaducts crossing the motor road.
At the entry of the ‘Peage’ (Toll road), time 14.47 hrsAt the exit of the ‘Peage’ (Toll road) at 16.07 hrs
The driver from Eastern Europe / talking to another driver crossing / the content in a different direction / in their own language / endlessly.
In the tunnel (1)In the tunnel (2)At about 6.5 hours drive, Paris is near.
Still, the driver paid attention to the traffic on the road, the lights / and he drove peacefully to the terminus / at Gare de Bercy.
Getting close to the ‘Peripherique’Readiness to remove our rubbishKeep left for the Peripherique (at 16.39 hrs)We are very near now, at 17.19 hoursExit to Gare de Paris: Gare de Bercy.
drager-meurtant 