Ferdinandea - The Ephemeral Island

Based on a historical investigation and a speculative projection, Ferdinandea recounts the emergence and disappearance of the volcanic island in a multimedia installation combining 16 mm films, videos, 3D simulations, historical documents and photographs. At the end of June 1831, the inhabitants of Kélibia, on the Tunisian coast, and Sciacca, a small town in southwest Sicily, witnessed alarming signs. An initial seismic tremor sank a number of boats in the area. The atmosphere is invaded by sulfur fumes, silverware takes on the appearance of copper and the whitewashed walls of villages and churches turn ochre. An underwater volcano, located between Sicily, Tunisia and Libya, has just erupted, giving rise to a small, arid island made of ash. The short-lived island is given many names: "Île Julia' in France, "Graham' in England and, in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, it takes the name of the reigning monarch, Ferdinand II de Bourbon. Ferdinandea soon attracted the attention of both the