The Gilbert Bayes Award 2022

curated by THORP STAVRI

Dora House, London, UK
30 May - 8 July, 2023

The Art House, Wakefield, UK
15 July - 12 Aug, 2023

Supported by Cultural Endowment of Estonia

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01 Caught Up in a Vicious Cirlce
Oak wood, fence spike, coffee powder, sea salt, wax, sisal, buoy

02 Where the Wild Dreams Are
Oak wood, beeswax, fishing net, faux fur

The works on the display are inspired by a visit to Isla de Las Palomas, which literally means "the island of birds," located in Tarifa. The island has a long history dating back to the 6th century BC. It has primarily served as a military base and, more recently, as a camp for asylum seekers crossing the Strait of Gibraltar from Africa.

In the absence of human activity, both local and migrating birds have taken refuge on the island, making it also their final resting place. Piles of bones with feathers, crystallized ponds of salt, fishing nets, and ropes are elements that evoke the ambiguity of the island's history.