Nigredo

Nigredo is a project by Greg Jager, curated by Miniera (the curatorial duo composed of Giuseppe Armogida and Marco Folco). It takes place in the underground spaces of IT’S Hub in Rome, a former air-raid shelter.

This transdisciplinary project explores themes that connect anthropology, philosophy, astronomy, and archaeology. Its core focus is the experience of darkness—obscurity and uncertainty—on a day dominated by light: June 21st, the summer solstice.

The title refers to nigredo, the first stage of the alchemical process. This phase represents an initial state of blackness, marking the beginning of dissolution and transformation.

In this suspended environment, human presence appears abruptly interrupted. As a result, the work invites reflection on the decline of an anthropocentric worldview and the fleeting nature of human existence. Rather than altering the space, Greg Jager allows it to speak for itself. The long tuff-dug tunnels and raw earth floor become silent witnesses to our impermanence.

Visitors navigate the space with only the dim glow of their smartphone torches. Meanwhile, in the distance, faint greenish lights reveal side tunnels and hidden chambers, suggesting unknown paths.

At the same time, the space resonates with harsh/noise soundscapes, composed in situ through a collaboration with artist Luca Baioni. This unsettling sound guides visitors to the final destination. Here, the remains of a Two-Faced Janus—an entity linked to thresholds in space and time—stand cast in black ice. As it slowly disintegrates, it becomes a symbol of the dissolution of humanity as we know it, making way for radical transformation.