THE USUAL TRAM TRAM

The Usual Tram Tram is a work that offers a profound reflection on the chaotic daily routine and immobility that characterize urban life, particularly that of Rome. At the center of the scene stands the Colosseum, an iconic symbol of the Eternal City, surrounded by a group of indistinct human figures. These figures, blending into the anonymous flow of the crowd, represent the chaos and routine that dominate metropolitan life, a frenetic pace that, paradoxically, has become part of normality.
A tram crosses the scene, symbolizing the constant and repetitive movement of the city, a mechanism that seems unstoppable despite the apparent disorder. Above this chaotic scene, a recurring figure in Tamburro's work emerges: Pinocchio. Despite being in the shadows, his identity is clear thanks to his long nose, a universal symbol of lies and deception. Pinocchio proclaims the phrase "Don't believe the truth," a statement that unsettles and invites the viewer to question what they consider real, true, and authentic, especially in a context marked by the influence of religious and political institutions.
At the bottom center of the canvas is the inscription "Il solito Tram Tram," which not only gives the work its title but also serves as a key to understanding the overall message. The phrase highlights how certain bad habits and dysfunctions, which characterize Rome's institutions and social fabric, are now so ingrained that they have become an integral part of daily life. The repetitiveness of the "tram tram" becomes a metaphor for the inertia and resignation that often accompany urban life and the relationship with power.