PEROU

‘considering those missing at sea (a part of the Navire Avenir)’ is a project that responds to the Mediterranean migration crisis by establishing spaces and tools on rescue ships to document and honor those who disappear during crossings. The project emphasizes the profound human toll of restrictive border policies. Navire Avenir envisions a specialized vessel for high-seas rescue, equipped with spaces for both practical and memorial purposes. These include a morgue for initial forensic procedures and areas where survivors can share memories, creating a collective record that preserves the identities and stories of the missing for their families and communities.

This project is led by the PEROU collective, an action-research laboratory co-founded by political scientist and artist Sébastien Thiéry alongside landscape architect Gilles Clément. Dedicated to advocating for hospitality as a fundamental cultural value, PEROU unites a wide network of researchers, designers, and activists. Through Navire Avenir, they aim to influence both public sentiment and policy, creating spaces where survivors can bear witness and investigators can responsibly preserve these accounts. Their team includes among others anthropologist Filippo Furri and psychosocial mediator Aman Mohamadsaid.

‘considering those missing at sea (a part of the Navire Avenir)’ embodies PEROU’s mission to turn art into a tool for transitional justice and healing. By responsibly documenting these disappearances, the project aids grieving families and supports legal actions that confront the social impact of migration policies. PEROU’s work on Navire Avenir serves as a powerful call to remember and advocate for these often-invisible victims, forging pathways to justice and accountability.