The List

This is / was a Biennial piece. It's an ever evolving piece curated by Banu Cennetoglu and it catalogues the names of refugees who have died trying to get to Europe. As it currently stands there are more than 34,000 people on the list. And that's just the ones we know about.

It's been shown in a number of European countries at various sites without issue.

Here, in Liverpool, it's been vandalised more than once for reasons that aren't clear and by people unknown. The first time it happened the Biennial simply replaced it only for the posters to get torn down again.

The Biennial have since taken the decision not to attempt to replace the damage, but have issued a statement to the effect it will stay as is, in its damaged and torn state.

As a reflection of the world in which we live. In a world where a list of the names of dead people is offensive. In a world where it seems to be wrong for people to attempt to flee war and persecution and a world in which we push back at those who seek nothing more than a better life for themselves.

It was a pretty powerful message when it first went up. In it's damaged state, it's even more powerful. To those who wrecked the piece, thank you, for you have done no good to your protest and even more good to the humanity of the common people.