Painting: Watercolor, Charcoal on Paper.

Hundreds of life vests washed ashore. Some vests carried a life. Some arrived empty. But they were all worn with a hope of a better future, to save a family, to save a life that had maybe just begun.

Piled up as a graveyard of silent screams in the pink sunset.

This piece is a part of the project “Out of Africa” focusing on the African migration crisis.

As Libya has become the gatekeeper to the safe haven of Europe many lay their lives in the hands of human smugglers. They set out on the 200 miles deadly journey on the Mediterranean Sea in overcrowded dinghies made of cheap plastic and equipped with tiny engines with limited fuel. Most of the boats are only made to just make it into international waters 13 miles from the coast of Libya.

Many set out on the journey without life vests. Shockingly, a majority of the life vest washed up on the European shores are fake, and designed to drown people instead of saving them. Made from a sponge, which means they quickly soak up water before dragging their wearer underwater.

30% of the profit of this painting will go to MOAS (Migrant Offshore Aid Station).