A Labyrinth for the Sea (AT)
Cristina Iglesias and Espiritu Santo Island
ein Film von Thomas Riedelsheimer
Jacques Costeau once called the Sea of Cortez, the part of the Pacific between mainland Mexico and the Baja California peninsula, “the world’s aquarium”. It is the kindergarten of whales and a popular destination for mantas, hammerhead sharks and ocean turtles. The islands and peninsulas of the Sea of Cortez appear barren, rugged and primal. A fierce heat beats down on the cactuses and the red and black volcanic rock. Yet this apparently hostile environment is home to a rich and sensitive flora and fauna. It is an area reminiscent of primitive times, barely populated and characterized by the sharp and direct contrast between land and water. John Steinbeck outlined his impressions saying, “at last, man plays no role”. Unfortunately, this natural retreat is now threatened like everywhere else as climate change, settlement and overfishing leave their mark.
For some years now, organizations and individuals have been trying to protect the islands in the Sea of Cortez. The island Espirtu Santo was bought back by private individuals during tough negotiations and then re-integrated into the nature conservation area. A short time later the islands in the Sea of Cortez were declared Unesco World Heritage sites. In order to highlight the importance of the sea and the relationship between man and a world that mostly remains hidden from him, Spanish artist Cristina Iglesias was commissioned to create an art of work for the people and the sea. This sculpture will be sunk in the coastal region of Espiritu Santo in 2009 so that it can be captured by the natural surroundings.
The creation of this work of art, the uniqueness of the landscape above and below the water and the question of the significance and power of public art are the themes of this film project.
eine Produktion der
Fundación Mexicana para la Educación Ambiental A.C.
in Zusammenarbeit mit
durchgeführt von
A Labyrinth for the Sea, 60min, DVCPro HD
© Fundea, Mexico 2008/2009
Regie, Kamera, Schnitt
Thomas Riedelsheimer
Produzent
Manuel Arango
Herstellungsleitung
Markus Breimaier