Sailig "Hope"

The October 3rd 2023 is the 10th anniversary of the shipwreck of migrants near the Lampedusa island in Italy.

Probably that was one of the most severe and resounding maritime tragedy in the Mediterranean sea in recent history.

This kind of event are not unusual on the Africa-Europe migration route as well as in many other migration flows by sea around the world.

The author reproduces the little boat from his childhood memories, with a walnut shell, a toothpick, a piece of paper and wax. This is also common in other European countries.

That is a simple toy that, however, allow the children to sail with their imagination, for fantastic adventures towards faraway lands.

This work highlights a similarity between the inadequate vessels of migrants and the makeshift toy boat of children in the countries of destination and an antithesis between the dramatic real journey of young migrants to unknown territories and the carefree fantasy journey of kids living in the destination country.