Journal of Sacred Work

Days 51-52 “Museao Atlantico”

JSW[NOTE: This post was written by Liz Wessel] Jason deCaires Taylor is creating a unique underwater museum that depicts the refugee crisis hitting Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The British artist creates a cast by covering human subjects with an alginate  paste. Each sculpture is made of eco-friendly marine cement that is anticipated to last 300 years.

 His incredibly moving work is about “the hope, loss and abandonment by society and a fight for survival that is happening now” he commented.

 Tragically in 2013, families desperate to escape the devastation of war and poverty in Africa crowded onto an unstable boat bound for Europe. Although many have made the arduous journey to safety, 366 refugees died in a shipwreck near the Italian island of Lampedusa (190 miles across the Mediterranean Sea from Libya.) This was one of the worst disasters in decades and thankfully has led the European Union to expand rescue operations.

It is easy to get caught up in our daily routines without giving much thought to the plight of thousands of refugees in dire need of help. Jason deCaires Taylor is using the medium of art to raise our consciousness  and to ask the hard question. As part of a global community and a collective member of the human family; what more can we do? – Liz

 

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6 responses to “Days 51-52 “Museao Atlantico””

  1. Maureen McDermott Avatar
    Maureen McDermott

    Remarkable and powerful. What a challenging gift to each of walk in the drowning steps and broken dreams of those whose only wish is peace and freedom. To what am I called?
    Thank you Erie for alerting me anew to the plight of so many of my sisters and brothers.

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  2. sbeng Avatar
    sbeng

    Thank you Erie for bringing us to the attention that there are so many suffering souls in search for a a decent living while on this earth. They struggle for survival. This makes me think of Doctors without Borders and other religious organizations that contribute their time and money to help them. The beautiful carved figures beneath the sea is a stark reminder of the plight of these people: PSALM 4:27 “Deep calls to deep at the noise of your waterspout: all the waves and your billows are gone over me”.

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  3. Woody Wessel Avatar
    Woody Wessel

    It would be nice to live in a world where people don’t have to flee.

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  4. erie Avatar
    erie

    Thank you, Maureen. But, this is one of Liz’s weekend posts and she just forgot to sign her name;-) Yes. it is indeed “remarkable and powerful” and heartbreaking.

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  5. erie Avatar
    erie

    HI Suan
    This is actually one of Liz’s weekend posts that she forgot to sign:-) Yes. This is deeply moving and inspiring.

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  6. Jolyon Avatar
    Jolyon

    From Oscar Wilde, “Ambition is the last refuge of the failure.”
    From Vishnu, “Would that I might reach his dear place of refuge, where men who love the gods rejoice.”
    Shakespeare – “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
    Chanakya – “The weak should seek refuge in the strong. Refuge in the weak results in sorrow.”
    “When the infinite requirement is heard and upheld, heard and upheld in all its infinitude, then grace is offered, or rather grace offers itself, and to it the individual, each for himself, as I also do, can flee for refuge.” ~ Søren Kierkegaard.
    Refugees, the word, is sometimes seen in the media as a bad word and therefore represents bad people. These are humans. Humans seeking refuge. They are seeking God’s grace and a helping hand from other citizens of the world more fortunate than they at the moment. It would be nice not to need a place like ‘Museao Atlantico’ to bring attention to our inhumanity. But it is, after all, a refuge…
    Thank you, Liz.

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