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Monument of Concealed Migrants
In memory of the 39 Vietnamese bodies found in a truck container near LondonArt, Projection
Public projection on rock covered in snow
Collabrator: Kelsey Tianyu Wang
Instructor: Krzysztof Wodiczko
Toolkits: Photoshop, Video Editing, Projection mapping
Year: 2019
On 23 October 2019, the bodies of 39 Vietnamese people — 31 men and 8 women — were found in the trailer of an articulated refrigerator lorry in Grays, Essex, United Kingdom. The trailer had been shipped from the port of Zeebrugge, Belgium, to Purfleet, Essex, UK, and the lorry cab and its driver are believed to have originated from Northern Ireland. Investigations are being led by Essex Police, and involve the national authorities of the UK, Belgium, Ireland and Vietnam.
Along with Kelsey, I created a series of huddle scuplture projections in the snow, marked as death body from 1 to 39, in memory of the 39 Vietnamese bodies, and all the concealed migrants died in the same situation.
Along with Kelsey, I created a series of huddle scuplture projections in the snow, marked as death body from 1 to 39, in memory of the 39 Vietnamese bodies, and all the concealed migrants died in the same situation.
With the medium of snow, transient and pure, we create a series of huddle sculpture projections, numbering from 1 to 39, each marking the resting place of a soul. This installation not only memorializes the 39 victims but also casts a light on the broader issue of migrant deaths, a global crisis often shrouded in anonymity and silence. Each sculpture, while representing a specific individual, serves as a testament to the countless others who have lost their lives in pursuit of safety and opportunity, their stories untold, their dreams unfulfilled.
This artistic projection transcends mere commemoration; it is a powerful call to reflection, empathy, and action. It implores the viewer to recognize the humanity behind the numbers, the individual dreams behind the statistics, and the collective responsibility to address the root causes of such tragedies. In the fleeting existence of the snow sculptures, there lies a profound message about the fragility of life and the enduring impact of loss, urging society to remember and, importantly, to change.
May their soul find rest.