“Κοτσινόχωμαν” - RED SOIL

2017—2022

A book-artefact, a documentary film, an interactive installation.

'Kochinohoma – Red Soil’ tells the story of the illegal killing of migratory birds on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, through a post-mortem inquiry into the unfortunate way they meet their end. It is the result of multiple collaborations between creatives, led by photographer Silvio Augusto Rusmigo and designers Omiros Panayides,Thalis Nicolaou and filmmaker Kostas Drakos.

These elements came together in a temporary exhibition which ran in September-October 2022 at the A.G. Leventis Gallery in collaboration with the environmental Non-Governmental Organization BirdLife Cyprus, to transport the viewer to a figurative crime-scene. The viewer was brought close to the objects, sounds and landscapes that make up this illegal activity, while being confronted with some hard-hitting truths on the magnitude of this problem. Through this experience, the viewer was invited to delve into the multifaceted environmental and cultural issue of wildlife crime in Cyprus, raising questions about individual responsibility as well as collective action.

The exhibition was very well received, with around 300 people attending the opening and approximately 1,000 over its duration. It also received the attention and support from all main media outlets in Cyprus. The project also received multiple distinctions, see below.

Awarded with:


The Book

​​The ‘Kochinohoma – Red Soil’ book (2021) by photographer Silvio Augusto Rusmigo in collaboration with designer Omiros Panayides, recounts how these birds are trapped and killed, partly through what remains: the confiscated trapping paraphernalia and the artificial landscapes that lure them into their ephemeral home. The descriptions add to this inquiry, by drawing on a nostalgic, extinction-inferring note. The narrative is inspired by bird-watching guides, communicating the intense interest that birds cause in their passage. The book is featured as an artefact in the exhibition and is made available for sale during exhibitions.​

Photography: Silvio A. Rusmigo
Texts: Silvio A. Rusmigo and Vasiliki Anastasi
Design: Omiros Panayides
Printing: Xenos Printing House | Athens
Publisher: BirdLife Cyprus

Dimensions: 33 X 23 cm closed portrait / Soft cover
Weight: 0.510 kg / No. of pages: 174
ISBN: 978-9925-7762-0-1

Awarded with:


Exhibition

A.G Leventis Gallery, Nicosia | September 20 - October 9, 2022

Documentary Film Premiere: 19 September 2022
Coordinators: Loukia Loizou Hadjigavriel - Director of the A. G. Leventis Gallery and
Katerina Stephanides - Curator of the A. G. Leventis Gallery
Created by: Silvio Augusto Rusmigo, Omiros Panayides, Thalis Nicolaou
Head Curator and Exhibition Design: Thalis Nicolaou
Graphic Design: Omiros Panayides
Documentary: Kostas Drakos
Sound: Panayiotis Mina
Text: Vasiliki Anastasi
Supported by: BirdLife Cyprus and the Sovereign Area Police Anti-Poaching Unit
Funded by: MAVA Foundation, BirdLife Cyprus, The A. G. Leventis Gallery

Special thanks to:
Martin Hellicar, Tassos Shialis, Elena Markitani, Markos Charalambides, Olivia Christodoulides,
Argyro Nicolaou, Atelie Demetriades Ltd, Arnold's Digital Printers Ltd

Media Sponsor: Cyprus Mail ​


The Migrant Trap

AUDUBON MAGAZINE FEATURE - 2024

In the summer of 2024, I was contacted by Audubon’s photo editor Sabine Meyer and journalist Rachel Nuwer about a story they were preparing on the trapping of migratory birds in Cyprus. They had come across my long-term project Kochinohoma – Red Soil, and from there a collaboration began. What followed turned out to be a life-changing experience. Together we created new images, gave fresh momentum to the project, and shared perspectives that helped me see my own work in new ways. I learned new skills, gained a deeper understanding of my craft, and most importantly made new friends and collaborators along the way.

Awarded with:

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