Mediterranean. The Continuity of Man (2010-2014)

“The Pacific may have the most changeless ageless aspect of any ocean, but the Mediterranean Sea celebrates the continuity of man.” (Ernle Bradford)

The Mediterranean region has many faces. Rich in history and blessed with a pleasant climat, the Med is the most popular tourist destination in the world. Over 220 million tourists flock to the Mediterranean beaches every year, putting great pressure on its natural scenery.

At the same time the Med functions as an unintentional castle-moat around Fortress Europe. Despite the danger, thousands of desperate immigrants from Africa and Asia continuously attempt to cross the water in shabby boats.

From 2010 until 2014 I travelled the length and breadth of the Mediterranean shores, documenting various contemporary issues such as tourism, urbanization, borders and migration in 20 different countries that share the sea. While I was working on this project, the region continuously hit the headlines: crisis in Greece, the Arab Spring, boat refugees, wars in Libya, Syria, and Gaza.

‘Mediterranean. The Continuity of Man’ is a caleidoscopic documentary portrait of the region and the Zeitgeist, characterized by huge contrasts and crises of different kinds. These photographs juxtapose parallel realities, in order to put things in perspective. The enriching crossroads of cultures Bradford refers to in the quote above, has become a barrier nowadays. The cradle of civilization today has become the grave of many.

“Here, at this crossroads of space and time, where the ancient sea indifferently links or divides people; here, just like in Nick Hannes’ photos, people are coincidental passers-by in the unscrupulous, ever repeating spectacle that we call ‘History’.” (Michael De Cock)

Mediterranean. The Continuity of Man was launched at the Antwerp FotoMuseum in 2014. It has been exhibited at Cosmos Galery in Paris (2014), the 5th Thessaloniki Biennale of Contemporary Art (2015), C-Mine in Genk (2015), Photo de Mer in Vannes (2016), Head On Photo Festival in Sydney (2016), Centro Andaluz de la Fotografia in Almeria (2016), Fundacion Tres Culturas del Mediterraneo in Sevilla (2016), Photomed in Sanary-sur-Mer (2016), Foto Istanbul (2016), Athens Photo Festival (2016), Fotofestiwal Lodz (2016), Photomed in Beirut (2017), Caja Granada Fundacion in Granada (2017), Stadtische Galerie in Iserlohn (2017), Photolux Biennale Internazionale di Fotografia in Lucca (2017).

The book is published by Hannibal Veurne.

www.continuityofman.com