Photographer's Note
I saw this interesting installation in the courtyard of the City Hall in Mechelen. It is called Inflatable Refugee. The sculpture travels in many places - Venice, Copenhagen, Uppsala. It stayed in Mechelen two months.
A refugee is larger than life! Larger than life because the refugee crisis is larger than life. The artist duo Schellekens & Peleman have come up with a statement of stature: Inflatable Refugee, a six-metre high inflatable of a seated refugee. Its scale allows the refugee to look far beyond the horizon, unhindered by borders or by papers he doesn’t have. There is an abandoned look in his eyes: has he arrived in a safe haven, or will he soon be sent back to the misery he so desperately wants to flee?
With their gigantic inflatable the artists also say something about the way the refugee is regarded in the West. For isn’t it true that he is usually seen as a gigantic problem, and only rarely as an opportunity? What makes this installation even more poignant is Schellekens & Peleman’s decision to make the figure out of the same material as the boats used by people-smugglers.
Bigger beta picture
The front view
Critiques | Translate
jemaflor
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(135550) 2016-11-06 0:44
Hi Malgo,
Impressive, this big man, perfectly presented from a good angle with also the view of people to give a scale, nice architecture for these facades in the BG, tfs.
PaulVDV
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5693 W: 17 N: 13762]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-s-g.gif){kind=small}
(54971) 2016-11-06 1:10
Hello Malgo,
I haven't heard of this inflatable refugee before.
Superlative that this installation is made of the same material as the boats made by the people-smugglers.
Meanwhile Turkey threatens again to let more people leave in such sea-unworthy boats.
Putting human lives at risk in exchange for the abolition of visas for their wealthy citizens. Where is morality here?
Best regards, Paul
ikeharel
(105983) 2016-11-06 1:10
That's a nice scaled picture by the people passing by, Malgo.
Placed against the city-hall building provided vivid decorative element with fine contrast of colors.
well taken from the chosen perspective.
have a nice Sunday,
Ike
GyurMaster
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(21399) 2016-11-06 1:15
Dear Malgo,
I have a beer the Gert will really like this photo! :-P
Very interesting installation, but the pedestrians seem to pass-by with an indifference.
Best Wishes,
Gy.
daddo
(28728) 2016-11-06 1:26
Hi Malgo. Clever way to make people think not only about the refugees but also about their own humanity in relation to those who are desperate. Poignant to read that the material used was from those flimsy boats which had caused thousand sto loose their lives. Regards. Klaudio..
Cricri
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(176) 2016-11-06 1:50
Hi Malgo
WOW imposante et extraordinaire sculpture que les personnes ne semble pas s'intéresser ou l'on déjà vu :-) cependant il donne l'échelle, belle façade de hôtel de ville
beau dimanche
bisous
cricri
snunney
(130967) 2016-11-06 2:00
Hello Malgo,
An intriguing title and an intriguing composition. The point of view is well chosen to show the inflatable sculpture to good effect with the background passers-by providing scale. Excellent technical realisation. It is interesting to note that apart from you nobody seems to be taking any notice of it; I wonder what that tells us about people's attitudes towards refugees?
holmertz
(92942) 2016-11-06 2:24
Hello Malgo,
You were lucky to see this installation in Belgium, because it may not be allowed to be shown in Poland until you get a new government. And it would be unthinkable to let this inflatable sculpture into Hungary. It would probably be shot. it's a bit amusing but more important as a reminder of the tragedies going on in Europe these days. And it is certainly suitable for photos.
Kind regards,
Gert
alvaraalto
(42358) 2016-11-06 3:10
Hello Malgo
I like the function of art to show us the world around us, to enlarge the reality and provoke our preconceptions.
I hope the inflatable refugee will also come to the Netherlands and I know a lot of other countries in Europe how should have a visit from the artwork.
Excellent picture
Have a nice Sunday
Groet Rob
BennyV
(32570) 2016-11-06 5:24
Hello Malgo
You surprise me, because I hadn't heard of this work before (even though I don't live very far from it & I actually follow what's happening in art). Just goes to show...
Thanks for posting this one.
Benny
Sergiom
(117241) 2016-11-06 6:47
Ciao Malgo,
Celui-ci sera assez difficile à oublier car il prend toute la place. Très bonne idée d'avoir inclus des êtres humains dans l'ensemble pour donner une bonne relation dimensionnelle.
Bon dimanche
Serge
Fis2
(155796) 2016-11-06 8:11
Cze¶æ Ma³gosiu!
Ciekawy temat poruszy³a¶.
Instalacja robi wra¿enie.
£adny kadr i kolorystyka.
Czego to ludzie nie wymy¶l± ;)
Pozdrawiam.
Krzysztof
carlo62
(81265) 2016-11-06 14:22
Ciao Malgo
una interessante installazione che, come hanno sempre fatto gli artisti, rispecchia il momento in cui viviamo.
Il fatto che questa opera vada in giro per l'Europa è sicuramente positivo, noi in Italia pensiamo che sia un problema nostro, la Francia pensa che sia un problema loro, la Germania lo stesso, in realtà il problema è di tutti i popoli e certi cambiamenti non li ha mai fermati nessuno.
Saluti
Carlo
bukitgolfb301
(53894) 2016-11-06 20:34
Hi dear Malgo
Very eye-catching posting awaking the world wise soical serious preblem. Ya Belgium is the core area for this problem, I think. Very suggetive posting in the best framework and compositioon.
All the best and have a good day! Takero
rychem
(72179) 2016-11-06 22:04
Olbrzymia instalacja i olbrzymi problem, a my jak zwykle zapalimy swieczke w oknie i pomachamy transparenteami
pozdrawiam Ryszard
macjake
(96157) 2016-11-07 0:43
Hi Malgo
wow, great post, i really like this one.
i think it actually does have a strong visual and emotional impact. what do you think?
and the fact its sitting right there in the way, suits it point too, it cannot be ignored.
the compo works well with the buildings in the bg without the skyline. excellent te post all around, it gets us thinking and evokes conversation
cheers
craig
Periko
(8387) 2016-11-07 14:40
Hola Malgo
La foto es interesante y un tanto contrastante. La actitud indiferente de esas personas dice mucho.
Yo tengo mis propias ideas, y pienso que ese inflable, y lo que representa, no tiene cabida en Europa.
Saludos cordiales
Pedro
jmdias
(103082) 2016-11-23 23:47
malgo
a nice idea to call attention to the problem and increase the visibility of it. I understand those who are preoccupied about the "invasion" of refugees and I understand those ones trying to scape of a place full of war, death, pain and misery. it isn't an easy task to resolve this. I guess refugees should be teached to be integrated in the society and put at side vicious aspects of their cultures.
hugs
jorge
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Malgorzata Kopczynska (emka)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 12886 W: 136 N: 33327]](//i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(152426) - Genre: Lugares
- Medium: Cor
- Date Taken: 2016-10-01
- Categories: Vida Diária, Arquitectura, Arte, Momento Decisivo
- Exposição: f/0.2, 30 segundos
- Versão da Foto: Versão Original, Workshop
- Date Submitted: 2016-11-06 0:43
