Anna Boghiguian and Turner Contemporary present The Sunken Boat: A glimpse into past histories, an exhibition which creates large-scale installations that combine personal narrative, historical research and political commentary. Her distinctive visual language—combining painting, drawing, collage, paper-mâché, glass, bronze and fabric—confronts viewers with questions about colonialism, trade, migration as well as ecological devastation. Her figurative work, including large-scale tableaux, is deeply connected to history and storytelling, addressing themes such as the impact of the Industrial Revolution and the climate crisis.
Clarrie Wallis, Director of Turner Contemporary, had this to say, “The Sunken Boat includes a new installation exploring the centrality of the sea in shaping histories of labour, trade, ecological collapse and political conflict. It combines sculpture, painting, cut-out figures and sound, inviting reflection on rising sea levels and geopolitical tensions around undersea communication cables. The Sunken Boat offers audiences a deeply engaging and reflective experience, encouraging dialogue around urgent global issues through the lens of maritime history and contemporary geopolitics.”
The Sunken Boat promises a rich and multifaceted experience that weaves historical narratives, personal observations and urgent contemporary concerns, inviting viewers to reconsider the sea’s pivotal role in shaping our collective past and unfolding future. This exhibition is presented in collaboration with ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum and is curated by Sarah Martin with production by Katherine Lloyd and Joe Drakeford.
About the artist
Anna Boghiguian is an Egyptian-Canadian artist of Armenian heritage whose work has been exhibited internationally, including the Istanbul Biennial (2009), Sharjah Biennial (2011), and dOCUMENTA(13) (2012). She received the Golden Lion at the 2015 Venice Biennale and is known for her installations that explore the intersections of history, politics and the environment. Born in Cairo, Egypt to an Armenian family, Boghiguian studied political science and economics at the American University in Cairo before moving to Canada in the 1970s to study art and music. In 2024, she was awarded the prestigious Wolfgang Hahn Prize in Germany.
The Sunken Boat will run until the 26th of October 2025 at Turner Contemporary in Margate, United Kingdom.
