Dis-Displaced
Over the last century, many communities around the Mediterranean have been displaced, leaving behind their memories and physical heritage. Seeking shelter, safety, and a better life, they moved to new lands. This installation questions the reality of these new lands, exploring the differences between home and refuge, safety and danger, and, most importantly, the perception of truth and lies.
For those who had to leave their homes 50 years ago in Cyprus, and those who are still being displaced in Palestine, some have found acceptance in new communities, while others still live under the shadow of temporary neighborhoods and deconstructed identities.
It’s not a tent nor a home; the materials we use to build our living spaces play a major role in defining our social interactions. This installation examines which parts of a refuge or home should be more protected and which can remain open. By using materials from various shelter types, such as tents and cabins, the installation questions the priorities of covering space when there is nowhere else to go.
The performance took place in the Larnaca region on the exact spot where petrol used to be stored. The symbolism of the place is directly connected to the power drive in politics. This power fuels not only the economic capabilities of governments but also the greed and audacity to push people away from their lands. This same place in Larnaca is promised to be the residential district of the future, which reminds us of the land across the sea where settlements are being built under similar promises, only to invade the locals and burn away their history.
Dis-Displaced was performed simultaneously with The Ritual of the Offer by Pleisure. In addition to the visual and symbolic connection between the dining table with fragmented food and traditionally made bread on it, the two artistic groups had two mutual interactions: The first was the invitation for people to approach the table by moving towards it in a revised dabkeh style. The second interaction was when Eisa recited parts from the late Mahmoud Darwish’s On This Land, and moved with the group to uncover the installation, dip the cover in wine, and pass it over the dining guests.
Performers:
Sarah Bioglou
Luciarita Nunziata
Declan Richards
Videographer:
Vit Pecha
Vangilis Sants
