Part of this year’s Notte Bianca programme of events, Ġejja Dgħajsa is an interactive installation which explores the meaning and symbolism attributed to boats.
The idea behind the installation is to initiate a discussion about hope, fear and tolerance. In literature, a boat is used as a metaphor for undertaking a journey or a crossing.
In Greek mythology, Charon ferried the recently deceased to the afterlife after being bribed by a gold coin buried with the deceased. More recently, Cyberneticians used the boat as a metaphor for a process which requires feedback in order to attain a goal.
In both cases, the boat is perceived as an instrument – one which is essential for something to transform from one state to another.
In the wake of mass migration patterns in the Mediterranean region, boat crossings can be perceived as a process of transformation for both migrants and the host communities.
In this context, boat crossings are associated with fear (of persecution, intolerance, physical harm, death, xenophobia), hope (of a better life, fairness, wellbeing, safety) and tolerance (between individuals, communities, religions, political ideologies).
The proposed installation is composed of 100 paper boats, in an arrangement resembling bird flocking
The proposed installation is composed of 100 paper boats, in an arrangement resembling bird flocking.
This arrangement symbolises the continuous state of flux which Mediterranean demographics are in. Each paper boat is mounted on a flexible rod and equipped with a custom circuit which lights up when the boat is gently nudged. This will leave a light trail as people walk through the installation and come into contact with the paper boats, leaving a trailing memory of the interactions which occur.
Each module is equipped with digital accelerometers and mounted on a compressive spring. When visitors nudge one of the boats, intentionally or by accident, embedded LEDs will light up for a predefined period of time. Visitors will be encouraged to walk through the installation and find their way through the 500 paper boats.
The installation allows for three forms of interaction... the observation of the installation from a distance with minimum engagement, medium engagement by visitors who find their way through the paper boats and maximum engagement by young visitors who try to intentionally light up as many paper boats as possible.
The interactive experience takes place in Strait Street and the project is the brainchild of Interactive Architecture Lab Malta team made up of William Bondin, Francois Mangion, Dimitri Calleja and Kris Camilleri.
Notte Bianca takes place on October 1 in and around Valletta.