This piece came as an idea when I was working with with frame guides on a video piece and observing a colour negative of a blue sky. Living between ‘The Lakes’ and the sea naturally brings most things into alignment with water. Not always blue. The ‘blue screen of death’ is a memory almost beloved, and it is strange to think that there are people around now who are familiar with computers who have never heard of it. The ongoing global shambles regarding human displacement continues to demand attention.

Julia Kristeva’s definition of abjection is relevant when reflecting on my frustrations here: ‘draws me toward the place where meaning collapses…’ (2002: 11); ‘…what disturbs identity, system, order… does not respect borders, positions, rules’ (2002: 4). From citation by A Frances Johnson. In other words, the concept of abjection describes a sociopolitical operation performed routinely on global migrants, who are constructed as the disturbing “outside” through which the “inside” defines itself, and a place where ‘we’ can be free and safe inside any border is commonly known as a santuary. As sanctuaries diminish, our voices get higher and the fight for our fellow human beings more urgent.