Salt

Selina Thompson's Salt premiered at Southbank Centre in July 2017 and toured the UK, Australia, Canada, and Brazil. It was awarded The Stage Edinburgh Award, The Total Theatre Award for Experimentation, Innovation, and Playing with Form, and The Filipa Bragança Award. It was shortlisted for the Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 64 pages
Publication date: 04 October 2018
Publisher: Faber & Faber

Where our true home lies is a complex and elusive question, one that defies a straightforward answer. However, that very ambiguity is what makes it intriguing. Some individuals assert that our true abode is our physical body, while others argue that the body serves as a conduit, leading us to our ultimate destination. In my perspective, the true essence of home lies beyond the confines of the physical body.

Ultimate reality, the boundless and timeless realm, is where our true home resides. It is not a place that can be physically reached or touched; rather, it is a state of being that transcends time and space. It is here and now, present in every moment and every experience.

In 2016, two artists, Selina Thompson and Lucy Raven, embarked on a remarkable journey. They boarded a cargo ship and retraced the route of the Transatlantic Slave Triangle, spanning Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean. Their purpose was to explore the concept of home, both real and imagined. This journey was driven by profound questions and deep grief, as they grappled with the legacy of slavery and its impact on generations.

The artists' journey took them to the depths of the Atlantic Ocean, where they encountered the vastness and mystery of the ocean's waters. It was a journey backwards in time, a diaspora, as they connected with their ancestors and the communities they left behind. Through their art, they sought to unravel the complexities of identity, history, and belonging.

This exhibition, titled "Salt," is a testament to the artists' journey and the treasures they brought back. Selina Thompson's Salt premiered at the Southbank Centre in July 2017, and since then, it has toured across the UK, Australia, Canada, and Brazil. It has garnered critical acclaim, winning prestigious awards such as The Stage Edinburgh Award, The Total Theatre Award for Experimentation, Innovation, and Playing with Form, and The Filipa Bragança Award. It has also been shortlisted for the Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award.

Salt is a multi-dimensional artwork that encompasses various forms of expression, including performance, visual art, and sound. It explores the themes of displacement, memory, and the search for home. Through a series of immersive installations, the artists invite the audience to engage with their work on a personal level, creating a profound and emotional connection.

One of the key aspects of Salt is its use of water as a metaphor for the ocean and the journey of the diaspora. The artists incorporate water into their installations in various ways, from flowing streams to immersive pools. The water serves as a reminder of the vastness of the ocean and the challenges faced by those who have been displaced. It also symbolizes the resilience and strength of the human spirit, as individuals navigate the complexities of their past and present.

Another notable feature of Salt is its exploration of memory and the power of storytelling. The artists use various techniques, such as performance, video, and audio, to evoke memories and create a sense of shared history. They invite the audience to participate in the storytelling process, sharing their own experiences and perspectives. Through this collective experience, the artists hope to foster a sense of empathy and understanding, challenging the dominant narratives of history and promoting a more inclusive and diverse perspective.

Salt is a powerful and thought-provoking artwork that invites us to contemplate the nature of home and the complexities of our identities. It reminds us that our true home lies beyond the physical world, in the boundless and timeless realm of ultimate reality. It encourages us to embrace our diversity, to seek understanding and empathy, and to work towards a more inclusive and just world.

In conclusion, Selina Thompson's Salt is a remarkable artwork that explores the concept of home through the lens of the Transatlantic Slave Triangle. It is a multi-dimensional masterpiece that combines performance, visual art, and sound to create a deeply immersive and emotional experience. Through its exploration of displacement, memory, and the search for home, Salt challenges the dominant narratives of history and promotes a more inclusive and diverse perspective. It is a testament to the power of art to inspire, educate, and transform, and a reminder that our true home lies within ourselves and the communities we belong to.

Weight: 80g
Dimension: 127 x 197 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780571352265
Edition number: Main