the fourth instalment of the ‘teaching objects’ series revolves around “creation”. in this art novella the reader is guided by lisa, a young artist who is facing death. a dialogue with four works by the american painter cy twombly emerges from the question of life’s duration, and lisa discovers the secret of creative speech. the protagonist’s thoughts bring her to gaeta, a seaside town near velia, the ancient greek town in italy, now named elea – the place where the school of parmenides was located in ancient times.