A Peu de Tanca: Pt I

Last week, while on holiday in the Catalan town of Vilanova, I chanced upon an exhibition by Stop Mare Mortum in the central market.

"We invest more in preventing them from crossing the border than ensuring they have a safe reception on land: how do you see it?"

The exhibition comprised both a photograph series by photojournalist Antonio Sempere and an installation piece with placards and fishing wire strewn across a vacant market stall. Information boards explained the situation in Spain, specifically focusing on the southern borders in Ceuta and Melilla. Leaflets alongside the installation outlined the work of Stop Mare Mortum, as well as the affiliated group Unitat Contra el Feixisme I el Racisme. It was fascinating to see such a surprisingly relevant exhibition amidst the everyday routines of Vilanova locals, not to mention a jolt back to reality from my otherwise sun-soaked holiday. After a conversation with the market director's very helpful secretary and a couple of phone calls, I had the contact details of the exhibition organisers.

"A Peu de Tanca" - At the Foot of the Fence

Two days later, I met with a Stop Mare Mortum member in the market cafe overlooking the exhibition. He explained the history and scope of their work; the Vilanova faction of the organisation began a couple of years ago as a reaction to, amongst other injustices, the shipwreck off the coast of Lampedusa in which hundreds of people died. Stop Mare Mortum work throughout Cataluña for judicial and political change, safer ways for migrants to enter Europe, and a general call-to-action for local residents.

"No person is illegal" // "Migrant women who are already fleeing violence are still suffering more violence, abuse and lack of protection"

Our discussion also suggested several avenues for future research, including similar projects such as EKO in Greece and Cataluña's 'centres oberts’ (a sort of social work centre - while the facilities are hosted by the Generalidad, the work is done by other associations as well). After our conversation, he walked me through the photography section, helpfully translating some of the trickier Catalan vocabulary and expanding on the printed descriptions.

I've now been put in touch with another Stop Mare Mortum member who, having visited Ceuta recently, can hopefully provide further detail and point me in the direction of other useful people on the ground there. In the meantime, I have lots more research to do.