Message in a Bottle performance
Mounting concerns about the pollution of our oceans and the alarming decline of fish stocks, compounded by the accelerating impact of global climate change, are a direct consequence of human activity. This ongoing crisis has prompted me to reflect on humanity’s relationship with the natural world, particularly through the lens of ancient stories and myths. Inspired by Greek mythology, where the gods of the sea, such as Poseidon, wielded immense power over the oceans and punished mortals for their arrogance and carelessness, I decided to create a symbolic clay bottle. This bottle is intended to carry a message of apology to Neptune – a gesture of acknowledgement and remorse for the harm inflicted upon the world’s seas.
The concept of a “message in a bottle” (MIB) has long captured the human imagination, historically serving a range of purposes, from love letters and personal confessions to please for rescue and even the transportation of human ashes. The unpredictable journey of these bottles, drifting across vast oceans and often found washed ashore in distant lands, has made them symbols of human connection ongoing, and the unknown. Many bottles discovered after years at sea containing messages in foreign or indecipherable languages, reinforcing their mystery and universal appeal.
To echo this sense of enigma and universality, I inscribed the surface of the clay bottle with Asemic writing – a form of mark-making that resembles an unknown language but carries no specific meaning. The intricate flowing lines mimic ancient scripts, inviting viewers to interpret the “writing” based on their imagination. This deliberate use of Asemic writing symbolises the idea that some messages, particularly those related to nature and our shared responsibility for it, transcend language.
The vessel will be cast into the Gulf of Izmir as a modern offering to the sea, blending ancient mythological traditions with contemporary environmental concerns. It is both a literal and symbolic act – a message of apology to the ocean and its guardian, Poseidon, and a call for renewed respect for the delicate balance of marine ecosystems. This project aims to evoke reflection on our collective impact on the planet and inspire others to contemplate their role in preserving the natural world for future generations.