An artwork for New Year’s Day
How did you spend New Year’s Day? I spent a chunk of mine cycling into the Surrey Hills and back. When I returned I looked back on the ride with quite a sense of achievement.
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To be honest, though, I don’t feel that way now.
I have just been reading the story of the volunteers on the Greek Island of Lesbos who spent their New Year’s Day creating the artwork you see below. In order to construct it they visited the rubbish dump where thousands upon thousands of lifejackets discarded by fleeing refugees have been deposited. With the seaborne leg of their journey complete, the bulky jackets are no longer needed, and are left behind.
The jacket-sculpture is a plea to remember that whilst over 1 million refugees crossed the Mediterranean last year, 3700 drowned in the attempt. With, or without life jackets, their journey ended in tragedy. Makes you think, doesn’t it?
Image: bbc
