The Sea is a Wall

While I often express my deep love and longing for my birthplace, Brazil, my departure was not without cause. After completing my Ph.D., I encountered a shortage of good job opportunities for Ph.D. holders. My decision to leave was not merely in pursuit of an adventure abroad; it stemmed from the understanding that the professional and personal fulfillment I sought could not be found in my homeland then.

When I received the excerpt “Impossibilities flicker all around me” from the “Fotografar Palavras” (1) project, it reminded me of my experience as an immigrant.

Despite my deep affection and yearning for Brazil, this passage urged me to reflect on the reasons for my departure. Motivated by these thoughts, I sought to take a photo embodying this excerpt while visiting Brazil in February.

However, upon returning to Berlin and reviewing the photos to find one encapsulating this narrative, a memory from my Ph.D. research emerged. My thesis explored a range of themes, including refuge and foreignness, with a focus on Tony Gatlif's films.

Although Brazil’s economic and political turmoil undeniably influenced my decision to emigrate, I acknowledge the privilege of having a choice. Unlike many, I could afford to leave. This starkly contrasts those who desperately need and desire to leave but face immense roadblocks or even risk their lives.

This photo depicts the sea at Barra Velha beach in Brazil. I printed it on Hahnemühle paper, then added red cotton threads crisscrossing the horizon.

This photo is no longer about my experience but about those who didn’t have the same opportunity as me. These red lines serve as a reminder:

for many, the sea isn’t a path; the sea is a wall.

(1) . Fotografar palavras - to turn word into photography. Project: Paulo Kellerman. Excerpt: Mónia Camacho.