‘Charon’s Boats’ was created by County Limerick artist Sheila Stone, with the help of friends, students, and local community groups. The name of the project is a reference to Charon, the boatman of Greek mythology who was paid to ferry the dead to the next life.
In 2016, the United Nations Refugee Agency UNHCR estimates that 362,753 people fled to the EU by crossing the Mediterranean. Of these, more than five thousand have been reported missing or dead. Inspired by an RTÉ Documentary about the Irish Navy and their humanitarian rescue mission in the Mediterranean, Sheila decided to use her skills as a ceramic artist to highlight the situation.
‘With ‘Charon’s Boats’, I have created a ceramic installation which expresses my deep concern at the plight of migrants fleeing across the Mediterranean. Each of these boats honors the memory of one of the five thousand and more, men, women, and children who drowned in 2016. Most of these individuals do not even have a grave to mark their passing. My intention is that the visual impact of five thousand boats, seen en masse, will illustrate the enormity of this ongoing human catastrophe.
Donated to XR Ireland directly by the artist, a number of Charon’s Boats were re-imagined to create a unique reflection on migration and climate displaced peoples for the Irish Global Solidarity in 100 Objects exhibition by members of Extinction Rebellion Ireland.
Source: Sheila Stone
Year: 2016 and 2020
Courtesy of Johanna Pykala and members of Extinction Rebellion Ireland
Irish Global Solidarity in 100 Objects is organised by developmenteducation.ie, an online hub focused on learning about the unequal and unjust shape of the world today, and is coordinated by Aidlink, Concern Worldwide, the Irish Development Education Association, the National Youth Council of Ireland, Self Help Africa, Trócaire and 80:20 Educating and Acting for a Better World.
DevelopmentEducation.ie is part funded by Irish Aid.
