The Suez Canal is one of the main arteries of world trade, connecting the Mediterranean with the Red Sea. An avenue for vessels to pass between Asia and the Middle East and Europe. The canal separates Egypt from the Sinai Peninsula.
In the exhibition 'Non static architectural encounters' (4 November to 9 December 2023), Hans Wilschut shows photographic works and 2 films.
His film 'Suez' (01:16:01:01 min), made with one fixed camera point of view gives a 24-hour view of the important shipping route.
Relative silence, sunrise, across the Sinai, for a while 'nothing' happens. Then the first convoy of huge cargo ships passes steadily. At intervals, two more follow. So a total of three, two southbound and one northbound. An average of about 50 ships a day.
Night falls and calm returns to the canal. As it gets darker, city noise swells in the background.
The vulnerability of the canal was demonstrated in 2021 when the container ship 'MV Ever Given' blocked the route for six days, bringing global shipping to a standstill.