13,700,000 km³

The exhibition 13,700,000 km³ explores the socio-political undercurrents of the Mediterranean Sea, taking as its starting point the location of the Schwarz Foundation's venue – Art Space Pythagorion – on the Greek island of Samos, at the fringes of Europe. The Mediterranean basin, a major component of the Earth's ecosystem, is in the midst of major environmental, social, economic and geo-political shifts, which transcend its geographic limitations. It was, and still is, an extraordinary melting pot in the history of humanity and civilisation: numerous wars, conquests, and expeditions have taken place in — or because of — its waters. It has been the epicentre of commercial, artistic, and cultural exchange between different peoples, shaping the identities of the countries around its shores, and beyond. The Mediterranean Sea itself is surrounded by 21 modern states and connects 3 continents, forming an essential part of their economies. It exists as a shared resource, a space of coexistence between these countries, the one place where they are asked to find a "common ground." But like all seas, the Mediterranean is not neutral; it is a contested space impregnated with a myriad of meanings.