The Sea Between You and Me (2016)
Single channel HD video, 17min (HD, Stereo)
Using documentary footage shot in September 2015 on Lesbos, voiceover, and animation effects, The Sea Between You and Me interrogates how geographic imaginaries are formed, transformed, and indeed transmutated at the intersection of medial and historical processes through the psychic function of language.
In Sappho’s shadow, the mythological imaginary of Lesbos as a place of refuge – as an idyllic paradise of the arts in ancient times and later as a haven for women seeking love and expression free from the restraints of patriarchal forces – takes on another yet layer of meaning as the first point of entry into the supposed safety of modern Europe.
In a refusal to simply ignore or repress the affective power and historical significance of the word “Lesbos”, this work challenges the viewer to consider the metaphoric and indeed karmic nature of the fact that this island - already an escape route for Greek refugees from Asia Minor in 1922 - has yet again become a refuge for over 550,000 people fleeing war and violence since the beginning of 2015.
Produced for the exhibition Voices Outside the Echo Chamber, curated by Katayoun Arian. Framer Framed, Amsterdam (NL