Nothing half, nothing whole

Amid islands between Africa and Europe, bold rocks, resilient plants, and soft sands blend into perfection. I'm drawn in yet held apart by a boundary, a membrane separating me from the world while marking my own mixed utopia.

Islands between the European and African mainland. Rock formations and cacti, shrubs, immense succulents, and water reflecting off the stones.

Then, again, sand—so fine it sparkles white in the sun.
A landscape that resists categorization (and thus resists confinement).

On one hand, nature here is massive in its rocky formations and resilient plants, yet on the other, it is almost gentle in the calm waters and softly rolling sand dunes.
It draws its own boundaries and endures ambivalences.

Amidst all of this stands a woman who seems to have a unique relationship with her surroundings—one distinct from that of travelers. She swims just beneath the surface, the water’s reflection tracing circles on her skin, which are mirrored in the rocks. At another moment, she lies on a sand dune, as if swept there by the wind, or curls up on a large stone.

The positions she takes within these places seem as though she has always been part of this landscape. And yet, there is still a boundary preventing her from entirely dissolving into her surroundings. She herself is an island between the landmasses, and she, too, must bear ambivalences.

Here, nothing is meant to be shown; something is being sought. Perhaps a source is hidden here, perhaps a story. Maybe the succulents have something left to say, as long as someone is there to listen. Just as every plant becomes a phrase, every bend in the path becomes part of a story. One must look closely, for behind every stone, a word may be hidden.

Stephanie Nebenführ, 2022

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Especially in the overlaps and differences between two cultures that flow into each other, many questions arise. While exhibiting parts of this work, I noticed again and again that people who share this story are extremely moved and need to talk. I am very much looking forward to an exchange with curators and people interested in art about this work and would be very happy about the joint development of the hanging.