Empty Vessels is a dialogue between Sahrawi Western Saharan artist Mohamed Sleiman Labat and Aotearoa New Zealand artist Matthew Galloway. The two, who have had an ongoing correspondence since meeting in 2016, present a collaborative work focusing on Aotearoa’s reliance on phosphate rock from Western Sahara. The work traces the movement of phosphate-carrying ships from Western Sahara to New Zealand, raising questions about the country’s reliance on a resource tied to the displacement of the Sahrawi people. Phosphate is mineral rock used to make fertiliser, partly fuelling Aotearoa’s high-performing agricultural industry. However, the resource is controlled by Morocco’s violent occupation of the region, which has displaced the Sahrawi people from their land.
Matthew Galloway (Aotearoa New Zealand), and collaborator Mohamed Sleiman Labat (Sahrawi/Algeria), have been named finalists for the prestigious London-based 2024 Circa Prize, for their collaboration Empty Vessels (2023-24).
Now in its fourth consecutive year, the International Circa Prize aims to discover, platform and champion the future visionaries who are shaping our world for the better. From 1–30 September 2024, each finalist will have their work appear at 20:24 BST on London’s iconic Piccadilly Lights, whilst simultaneously broadcasting across a global network of screens in Berlin and Milan.
A prestigious jury, featuring past CIRCA artists and long-time collaborators including Marina Abramović, Lisa Anderson, Nicoletta Fiorucci, Michèle Lamy, Hans Ulrich Obrist, Josef O’Connor, Kembra Pfahler, Sir Norman Rosenthal, Slawn, Nadya Tolokonnikova and Ai Weiwei, will come together to select the winner of the £30,000 CIRCA PRIZE. Plus, an online public vote, powered by Piccadilly Lights, will grant an additional £10,000 to the artist with the most votes. That's £40,000 in total up for grabs!
Matthew and Mohamed’s work will be screening this Sunday 8th September on Piccadilly Lights at 8:24PM BMT (7:24AM Monday 9th September NZT).
Watch the work and vote for their film to win here: CIRCA ART
(Voting closes Midnight BMT on 30 September 2024)
