LOST & FOUND

Gyali (GR), 2020


The Greek island of Gyali is volcanic in origin and geologically consists of obsidian and pumice stone. The landscape is dominated by two hills 180 meters high, which will disappear in a few decades due to mining by open-pit extraction from the largest pumice deposit in Greece. The two hills are connected by a narrow headland on which there are beaches on the north and south sides. Due to ocean currents, the north beach is particularly polluted with washed-up garbage. Once a year environmental organizations remove the larger debris, but small particles of plastic remain mixed with the sand.

Robert Gschwantner's woven carpets are made from PVC tubes containing sand, plastic particles and sea water which he collected from the north beach of the island.