THE FIREFLIES MEMORIAL (DURBAN) BY FRANCESCO MARIOTTI

The Green Camp Gallery, 246 Umbilo Rd, Bulwer, Berea, Durban
Thursday 28^th of June 2018, from 18:00 onwards.

The Fireflies Memorial is a long-term-project which aims to build a hybrid habitat in memory of the murdered ecologists and environmentalists; a collaborative work that pays tribute to all the people and organizations that are committed to the protection of nature. It is also a stance to remember people in Latin America and South Africa who had been murdered during their struggle, such as Honduran environment and human-rights activist Berta Cáceres; Brazilian environmental activist Chico Mendes; and, South Africa’s Wild Coast anti-mining activist Sikhosiphi “Bazooka” Rhadebe. This participative version will be installed at The Green Camp Gallery, a rehabilitated space converted into an organic and sustainable lifestyle hub on urban farming and creativity based in Durban founded by Xolani Hlongwa.

The installation is a work-in-progress that combines light-emitting diodes (LEDs) –simulating fireflies sparks– and organic farming –in teamwork with Nkazimulo Gabuza–; sounds of the Amazonian Huirapuru bird and the South African cicada insect; a visual projection by Crosby Luhlongwane; and, written and spoken texts by Mzwandile Mlangeni which were nurtured and inspired throughout the happenstances.

Concepts for projects with objectives
These days nothing to reject
Especially when he’s pushing too hard to inject
We re-direct direct that society

With source, without scientist
Earth no more breath for it
Gases ashes smashing until nothing to eat
Inside the stomach something is weak

It has to be a theme of thieves
Cheating, manipulating culture and nature
People and their environmental movements

Protest against industries globally
We don’t need diluted breathing air
Asthma is there, companies don’t care
But we, the people lets us bring and share

Mzwandile Mlangeni

With the collaboration of: Crosby Luhlongwane, Mzwandile Mlangeni, Nkazimulo Gabuza, Xolani Hlongwa, Åsa Nilsson, Ernesto Coba, Elisa Arca and José-Carlos Mariátegui.

Thanks to: Magdalene Reddy, Patrick Bond, Desmond D’Sa and  Mario Pissarra.

Organized by ATA with the support of Prince Claus Fund and Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia during the 24th International Symposium on Electronic Art (ISEA2018), June 23-30, 2018 Durban University of Technology, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, as part of Hybrid happenstances (Under 40 degrees) aiming at developing Peruvian and South African cultural encounters mediated by art and technology to find connections and cross-pollinations.