XXXV

The image shows a colorful mural that represents the Italian coastline made up of lines, shapes, words and images. A childlike drawing of a ship with the word Acquarius written on it is in the middle of an empty space, the sea. Near the ship is the symbol ‘x’, following a red line that comes from the East. From that ‘x’ two arrows begin: one is directed towards the ship, in the North; the other towards the middle of the sea, in the West, where one can read the words: ‘Non ho paura del mare davanti’, which is Italian for “I'm not afraid of the sea ahead’.

Non Ho Paura del Mare [I’m Not Afraid of the Sea]

Created by Michele Quadri

Contributed by Wilmarie Rosado Pérez, 2018

Courtesy of the artist

Keywords: #apriamoiporti, Sea, #RefugeesWelcome

Currently my investigation is about poetry dealing with themes and tropes related to migration and exile, such as displacement, alienation, citizenship, national identity, and belonging, among others. In many ways, but through a different artistic means, this image addresses the same topics.

The image shows a colorful mural made collectively by a group of people participating in the European project Atlas of Transition. The image refers to recent events in which the Italian ports were closed to a rescue ship Acquarius with 630 migrants on board. The piece makes us reflect on how the sea can be perceived as an open space that could connect countries, but instead, it has evolved into a place of permanent conflict in which not everyone is allowed to transit freely or to arrive in an equal manner to their destination.