{"id":536,"date":"2025-01-03T13:41:05","date_gmt":"2025-01-03T14:41:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.storybooksaintbernards.com\/?p=536"},"modified":"2025-04-03T22:57:11","modified_gmt":"2025-04-03T22:57:11","slug":"sea-watch-and-mother-berlin-confront-apathy-with-a-stark-installation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.storybooksaintbernards.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/03\/sea-watch-and-mother-berlin-confront-apathy-with-a-stark-installation\/","title":{"rendered":"Sea-Watch and Mother Berlin Confront Apathy with a Stark Installation"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I first saw the photos of \u201cWarning Signs,\u201d<\/a> the recent installation by Sea-Watch and Mother Berlin at the Brandenburg Gate, I was struck by the stark power of its message. Imagine walking past one of the world\u2019s most recognizable landmarks and finding it transformed into a sea of orange warning signs, each message a cry for attention to the ongoing refugee crisis in the Mediterranean. Over 250 signs, arranged to span nearly 400 square meters, create an atmosphere so overwhelming and urgent that it\u2019s impossible to look away.<\/p>\n

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Stepping into the installation is akin to entering a metaphorical storm\u2014a sea of dire warnings that forces onlookers to confront the brutal realities faced by refugees. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Sea-Watch<\/a>, a nonprofit committed to rescuing refugees from the Mediterranean since 2015, teamed up with the creative minds at Mother Berlin<\/a> to craft this installation. The choice to use warning signs as the medium feels almost too perfect. After all, what are warning signs if not everyday reminders of the dangers we\u2019ve trained ourselves to ignore?<\/p>\n

Each sign goes beyond the usual \u201cCaution: Slippery When Wet\u201d fare, instead bearing messages like \u201cDanger: Drowning in Progress\u201d or \u201cBeware of Political Failure.\u201d These words, paired with stark pictograms, pull you out of your comfort zone.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe collaboration with Sea-Watch gave us the opportunity to raise awareness of the refugee issue in a creative and emotional way. Our goal was to convey a critical message that not only touches people but also mobilizes them and helps Sea-Watch to secure further support for their mission,\u201d explains Amelie Schad, managing director of Mother Berlin.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Stepping into the installation is akin to entering a metaphorical storm\u2014a sea of dire warnings that forces onlookers to confront the brutal realities faced by refugees. Crafted from repurposed road signs, the orange color scheme evokes the \u201cRefugee Flag,\u201d giving the visuals a cohesive identity tied to Sea-Watch\u2019s mission.<\/p>\n

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Stefan Wittemann, creative director at Mother Berlin, shared, \u201cOur aim was to find an artistic language that does justice to the urgency of the topic and really shakes people awake.\u201d And for those who aren\u2019t in Berlin, an evocative film directed by Harun G\u00fcler captures the raw emotion of the piece.<\/p>\n

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