CladioAnnotation
what?
how?
why?
choices?
what came before?
what will follow?
Sam on Claudio:
What is Claudio working on? A project near and dear to his heart, yet geographically distant. A subject of obsession for some time now, he is looking at the remote land of North Sentinel Island, located in the Indian ocean. Since I have met him (but likely longer) he has been busy with researching this place, the history, the current state and the (few) images in existence of the place. As we have an opportunity to screen a project as part of the EYE Research Lab, Claudio aims to make a video-based work that may present a fraction (or it's entirety) of the ongoing research study. The contents or precise format of this work has yet to be determined. Likely using different archive material, potentially the changing representations of this island from the west through maps, maybe also with text and narration.
The island is a place that is officially owned by the Indian Government and is deemed illegal to visit. There is a true local, natural way of life there, that does not wish to be harmed. The people there are not necessarily interested in contact attempts from the outside/western world.
There are troubling stories and even some videos of attempts in the past of people trying to visit and connect with the Sentinelese. Claudio has extensive notes, reflections and studies on the tough yet thought provoking endless list of questions surrounding this place. Ultimately, he begins to speculate over the protection of the island. He mentions that if someone was so inclined, the island could easily be conquered. just as so much else of the world has been by 'stronger' powers. However, this island and its relatively untouched way of life still exists. He asks, do we need places like this? The starting point may be desire.
The manner in how this work is coming together is through extensive research as mentioned, through text, still and moving image. Lots of what exists to be found on the island comes of course from a western perspective. Especially the violent nature of images, shot at extreme distances, with intruding zoom lenses, feeling like a sort of modern warfare tactic. A forced representation void of honesty comes about in this difficult material to look at. As mentioned earlier, many difficult, important and somewhat existential questions rise to the surface. The questions seem to be the most crucial and intriguing element to this work, especially when it comes to images, making them and making meaning of them.
One might ask why? Well, he does not intend to copy and paste these failed disrespectful tactics that have been used by others in the past who were fascinated by the island.
In an effort to see beyond the fixed latitude and longitudinal characteristics of this place, Claudio has allowed his understanding of this island and the questions surrounding it to lead him into other worlds as a space to contemplate. Drawing parallels to Rothko and abstract expressionism for example, layering this overtop of Google satellite images. It's difficult to put the inquisitions and work he is doing into words but there is a fascinating world of deep thought and reflection he is letting himself sink into. The goal is still to continue to learn more and more about his subject, but ultimately do this in a humanistic rather than scientific manner.
In summation, Claudio has been navigating a range of choices in an effort to navigate his and societies interest and comprehension of a foreign place, a particularly peculiar one at that. What to include, what not to, contemplating the sublime, and contemplating his own position in this work. He has laid the ground work for an intriguing project that will speak volumes about the island but also about power, representation, desire and more at large.
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