John Akomfrah: Vertigo Sea

Moving video installation at the Towner Gallery looking at man’s relationship with the sea, and its role in the history of slavery, migration, trade, and conflict.

Over three large screens Akomfrah used a mix of footage from the BBC Natural History Unit, archive film and newly filmed material to contrast the beauty of the marine world and the destruction of animal and human life at sea and on the coastline.

There were challenging recreated images of the slave trade but their power was lessened by the knowledge that the scenes were staged. More visceral was archive footage of polar bears being killed which were stark and real.

The film was long at 48 minutes but mesmerising and well worth spending the time to watch it.

Closed 26 September 2021

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