Perlen suchen

Created for the exhibition “Mit Schweiß und Blut – Arbeit ≠ Arbeit?“ in PantoART gallery, Wien.

A vortex of dark, foaming water swallows a pearl diver. The pearl divers dive in apnea, to a depth of 30-40 metres, in order to find the oyster containing the precious pearl.   This activity, which in many countries is not even considered real work, is extremely dangerous and exhausting. The divers are exposed to many dangers, risk their lives every day risk their lives and are exposed to various diseases caused by the lack of oxygen during repetitive diving.  Most pearl divers are women. Their income is significantly lower than the national average salary.