«Borderline Visible», a sound and visual story by Ant Hampton

Borderline Visible is a story in which you can immerse yourself with headphones on and a book in your hands. The story begins on the shores of Lake Geneva, in Lausanne. In 2022, two artists and friends, Ant Hampton and Rita Pauls, embark on a journey across Europe, via Italy and Greece to Izmir (Turkey). In their luggage: their cell phones, a recorder and a collection of poems by T. S. Eliot (1888-1965), who wrote The Waste Land, one of his most famous poems, in Lausanne.

Their plans are soon disrupted by unforeseen circumstances. Rita Pauls has to return home. Ant Hampton keeps going. He continues to record the voices of the people he meets and the pulse of the cities he passes through. He collects the music of waves in the sun, the call of swallows, maps and old pictures. He is interested in borders and Frontex. He wonders about mourning, migration, family ties and friendship.

From this long journey, Ant Hampton draws a documentary and poetic fresco. His narrative skills enable him to construct a story that remains easy to follow, but which gains in depth as it progresses. Borderline Visible captures some of the paradoxes of our contemporary times, and the forms that memory can take, buried in places as well as in bodies. A memory that is lost, yet passes on from one generation to the next.

What the press is saying
→ «… distilled with subtlety and humanity… A magnificent way of approaching politics through exploration, extended time, and touch. » – Marie-Pierre Genecand, Avec Alina, Mohamed et Ant, le far° aborde l’immigration sur un mode intime (Le Temps, 08.08.2024)
→ «Your understanding of what a book can be will change forever.» – Lara Pawson
→ «An extremely engaging psychogeographical framework constantly enriched by Hampton’s searching mind and razor-sharp political rage.» – Marijn Lems, Theaterkrant (NL)

Practical information
Borderline Visible is a “live book”: an experience to be enjoyed with a copy of the book and headphones (or good earphones). Once the soundtrack is activated (on your smartphone or computer), all you have to do is let yourself be carried away by Ant Hampton’s story and the music of Oren Ambarchi and Perila.

Running time: 77 min / Recommended age: from age 14
Available in English, French, Italian and Dutch
The book can be borrowed free of charge with headphones:
→ at the far° Nyon office
→at The Library of Nyon – Adulte Section (Avenue Viollier 10)

The book is also on sale at far° for CHF 25.

Borderline Visible is a project by Ant Hampton based on a project conceived with Rita Pauls and published in 2023 by Time Based Editions Writing, montage, photography, recording and voice narration (English version) Ant Hampton  French version: voice Antoine Defoort translation Marion Schwartz ecording studio with the support of Pianofabriek (Brussels) other credits online: timebasededitions.com book design Roland Brauchli copy-editing Neil Bennun music Oren Ambarchi: «Fever, A Warm Poison», album In The Pendulum’s Embrace (2007), Perila: «Corridor Between Days» (2022), Oren Ambarchi: «Quixotism Parts 1 and 2», album Quixotism (2014), acknowledgements Pieter Ampe, Giorgos Antoniou, Sae Bosco & Samos Volunteers, Yannick Christian, Hani Dunia, Effi & Amir, Tim Etchells, Katy Fallon, Martin Hampton, Britt Hatzius, Leo Kay, LAPS, Camille Louis, Eva Neklyaeva, Beyhan Onur, Anelka Tavares, Prodromos Tsinikoris, Giulia de Vecchi, Anny Y. support The Resonance Foundation (Los Angeles), Bimeras (Istanbul / Berlin), Théâtre Vidy—Lausanne research and prototype support Lita House of Production and Kundura Stage (Istanbul), National Theatre of Northern Greece (Thessaloniki) executive financial management Platform 0090 (Antwerp)

Winner of the IDFA (International Documentary Festival Amsterdam) 2023 DocLab Award for Creative Technologies

This project was presented in a collective version during the far° festival des arts vivants 2024, with the support of Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne.