Walls of shame

Site-Specific Installation at Baobab Migrant Camp, Rome, 2018

This installation was created directly on the fences of the Baobab migrant camp in Rome, a space defined by both physical and social boundaries. Hundreds of bird-shaped cutouts were attached to the fence from inside the camp, forming a dynamic, ever-changing pattern akin to a murmuration of starlings.

This idea was inspired by the natural phenomenon of starlings flocking together in the skies of Rome during the winter months, from October to February. As I watched these birds move as one, shifting fluidly through the air, I was struck by their unity and freedom — a stark contrast to the division imposed by the camp’s fence.

The birds in this installation extend beyond the top of the fence, creating the illusion of them soaring freely over the barrier. From outside the camp, the birds appear to fly over and beyond the fence, symbolizing the aspiration for freedom that transcends the confines of the camp.

This work transforms the fence from a symbol of separation into a metaphor for hope and movement. The birds, as symbols of migration and liberation, confront the restrictive nature of borders, suggesting that no physical barrier can contain the will to break free. In this piece, I reflect on the resilience of those seeking a better future and challenge the systems of division that persist in society.

Through this intervention, I explore the human desire for freedom, transcending both physical and metaphorical boundaries. It serves as a meditation on migration, exclusion, and the recurring cycles of fear that define our approach to borders — a reminder that, like the birds, people will always strive to rise above the walls that seek to separate them.