Filipino-Dutch artist Martha Atienza’s film, “Our Islands 11°16’58.4″N 123°45’07.0″E (2017),” is being showcased on Times Square’s iconic electronic billboards this July as part of the ‘Midnight Moment’ series. The film, created with underwater compressor divers from Atienza’s native Bantayan Island, highlights the challenges faced by sea communities in the 21st century.
The divers perform a unique procession on the seafloor, inspired by the annual Ati-atihan parade, wearing items that reference religious, animistic, and pop cultures, including Manny Pacquiao’s boxing gloves and the costume of Santo Niño.
Atienza, speaking to Art Basel, shared, “‘Our Islands’ was a result of working with my family, neighbors, and friends in Lawis, Bantayan, since 2010. It began as a simple idea to understand my father, who was an international seafarer, and soon became a way for all of us on Bantayan to start difficult dialogues around family and community.”
Atienza’s work not only brings attention to the effects of climate change and social issues on fisherfolk but also serves as a tool for community engagement and environmental advocacy. She explained, “The conversations this work brought about have been a success story, but the state of fisherfolk has worsened with climate change. How do we protect our culture and our fisherfolk and farmers?”