A3 Book section, Chapters in research books
Curating Objects from the European Border Zone : The “Lampedusa Refugee Boat” (2019)

Horsti, K. (2019). Curating Objects from the European Border Zone : The “Lampedusa Refugee Boat”. In K. Horsti (Ed.), The Politics of Public Memories of Forced Migration and Bordering in Europe (pp. 53-70). Palgrave Macmillan. Palgrave Macmillan Memory Studies. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-30565-9_4

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Horsti, Karina

Parent publication: The Politics of Public Memories of Forced Migration and Bordering in Europe

Parent publication editors: Horsti, Karina

ISBN: 978-3-030-30564-2

eISBN: 978-3-030-30565-9

Journal or series: Palgrave Macmillan Memory Studies

Publication year: 2019

Pages range: 53-70

Number of pages in the book: 144

Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

Place of Publication: Cham

Publication country: Switzerland

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-30565-9_4

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: 

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/67244

Abstract

The cultural politics of the present encourage museums and artists to seek an ethical vision within Europe navigating the knowledge of ongoing mass death at the border. This is one explanation for the interest in objects symbolising present-day irregular border crossing among museum curators, artists, designers and activists. Wooden fishing boats, inflatable dinghies and life jackets appear regularly in exhibitions and installations. This chapter focuses on the meaning of “the Lampedusa boat” and argues that the narrative context within which the boats are exhibited guides the work of imagination that animates the object. While exhibiting the boats carries the critical potential to relocate the border and make it visible, this potential is disrupted by a political context that simultaneously militarises and humanitarianises the border.

Keywords: boundaries; refugeedom; death; politics of memory; museum pieces

Free keywords: museums; art; objects; border deaths

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2019

JUFO rating: 3