La Via dell'altro (The way of the others)
| Year: | 2025 |
| City: | Lampedusa, Italy |
| Measures: | 200 m |
| Media: | Light installation |
| Projects: |
La Via dell’Altro unfolds as a poetic yet incisive intervention in Lampedusa’s nocturnal landscape. Over six evenings, five narrow beams of red light trace an elegant arc between two emblematic sites on the island—Via Roma, the festive artery of tourism, and Molo Favaloro, the austere landing shore of those who have crossed the sea in search of safety.
This “bridge of light” does not span a distance for bodies to traverse, but rather a chasm of perception: it makes present the silent proximity of two parallel realities. Where postcards promise sun-soaked ease, the same waters cradle stories of peril and perseverance. Where hospitality greets vacationers, its absence is felt by the unannounced guests arriving under cover of darkness. By rendering this tension visible, the installation becomes a mirror—reflecting back our collective complicity and our capacity for empathy.
Through its ephemeral glow, La Via dell’Altro invites a sustained encounter with questions that shape life on the island:
- How do we share common ground when our reasons for being here could not be more different?
- What does it mean to host, to welcome, or to ignore?
- Can a single beam of light dissolve the barriers we build, even if only for a moment?
Artistic Themes & Aims
Hospitality Reimagined
Drawing on the ancient notion of hospitium, the work reframes Lampedusa as both guest and host—celebrating moments of genuine encounter and exposing instances of indifference.Visibility as Intervention
By casting light where we habitually look away, the installation turns the night sea into a stage for social reflection, prompting viewers to reconsider the narratives they carry.Collective Witnessing
Positioned to be seen from land, sea, and sky, the work mobilizes an audience of locals, visitors, and distant observers in a moment of shared testimony—an invitation to bear witness together.
Program Highlights
7 August – Opening Night
Join Tanja Boukal at sunset for the inaugural lighting of the five red beams.8, 9 & 11 August – Encounters & Conversations
Engaging sessions with former refugees, local residents, rescue workers, and migration-law experts.10 August – Panel & Exhibition “Refugees in Libya”
First-hand testimonies, documentary materials, and expert discussion on life in Libyan camps.12 August – Music & Communal Singing
A closing celebration under the light bridge featuring traditional Lampedusan melodies and songs of migration.