Border Conflicts

The “Border Conflicts” exhibition in Madrid is a survey of some of the most dramatic transformations that certain borders have undergone, deep within our continents.

Maps are never definitive. The boundaries of countries change as a consequence of historical events predetermined by the human race. Rarely has a territory vanished in the wake of a natural disaster. In most cases, the shifting outlines of the states that make up our so-called international community are drawn and redrawn by conflicts, wars, treaties and agreements, not always with the consent or direct involvement of affected citizens.

Top: 15-09-15, Horgos, Serbia. ©UNHCR/Igor Pavicevic. Above: 28-11-15, Idomeni, Grecia. ©UNHCR/Achilleas Zavallis

Today's maps, whether accepted or contested, were drawn by timelines, processes, treaties and interests of all kinds, yet these very factors help us to understand and gauge the consistency of boundaries in the most sensitive areas of our modifiable geographies.

Street Art in the Separation Wall, 22/25-2-14, Aida Refugee Camp, Palestine. ©Clémence Lehec / Laurent Davin

Produced in association with Le Monde diplomatique (Spanish edition) and Fundación Mondiplo, this exhibition is a survey of some of the most dramatic transformations that certain borders have undergone deep within our continents, driven by dynamics of past centuries which are still present today and auger equally mutable futures.

© Forensic Oceanography: Charles Heller, Lorenzo Pezzani y Situ Studio. “Forensic Architecture”, Centre for Research Architecture, Goldsmiths, London University.


until 4 January 2017
Border Conflicts
curated by Ignacio Ramonet and Ferran Montesa
La Casa Encendida
Ronda de Valencia 2, Madrid