The Island Behind The Horizon
2015
The Island Behind The Horizon is an installation and consists of a film and a nautical chart. The film shows a point in the Mediterranean Sea, where the island of Lampedusa—Italy’s southernmost tip and access point for migrants to Europe—lies behind the horizon. Firstly, I identified this location as a significant limit line, then I reached and documented this location in November 2015.
Initially, the work originated from the intention to measure the distance separating arriving boats from the shore of Europe. And to create a counter-image to the photographs documenting asylum-seekers being rescued in the Mediterranean Sea. That is, those pictures get often taken from a high vantage point.
In contrast, by adopting the standpoint of an observer at sea, I sought to point out the position of moving toward a distant future in a situation of complete uncertainty. Ultimately, the main subjects in the video are the observer behind the camera and the island behind the horizon.
The Island Behind The Horizon, 2015 HD video, colour/sound, projected
11 min. 19 sec., looped
As part of this work, a nautical chart measures the distance from which an observer at sea can begin to see the island of Lampedusa appearing above the horizon. Specifically, I designed this nautical chart (based on an official version used for navigation) to feature a geography of uncertainty. In other words, it only shows elements subject to variations: the deepness of the sea and three horizons.
The Island Behind The Horizon (Nautical chart indicating the greatest distance at which an observer at sea can see the top of the island of Lampedusa above the horizon), 2015
Offset print on paper, framed
141 x 100 cm
Photo: Maurizio Elia
