TBWA Made a Provocative Floating Tribute to Syrian Refugees Who Died at Sea

200 gravestones in the water

#SMW is right around the corner. Join us April 9-11 in NYC to get up to speed on all the latest strategies, technologies and trends you need to be following. Register now.

Last month, more than 200 gravestones appeared in the Mediterranean Sea, about 200 meters off the Aegean coast of Turkey. Made of waterproof styrofoam that resembled marble, and anchored with weights, each stone bore the name of a Syrian refugee who died in the water while trying to reach Europe. 

Created by TBWA\Istanbul for humanitarian aid group Support of Life, the "Sea Cemetery" bobbed on the waves like a cluster of buoys, eerie monuments to human tragedy. 

"Support to Life loved the idea of an elegant artful installation, instead of a hard-core political expression," İlkay Gurpinar, chief creative officer at TBWA\Istanbul, tells AdFreak.

AW+

WORK SMARTER - LEARN, GROW AND BE INSPIRED.

Subscribe today!

To Read the Full Story Become an Adweek+ Subscriber

View Subscription Options

Already a member? Sign in