KARUNÃ (in both Sanskrit and Pali) is generally translated as compassion. It is part of the spiritual path of both Buddhism and Jainism. In “Island” a novel by Aldous Huxley (his last) Minah birds were trained to repeat ‘Karuna’ in order to make humans aware of what is really important. Inspired by the book and its violent ending, this film should be seen as a Minah bird of sorts, reminding people of all the nameless victims and atrocities committed in the name of progress, religion and civilization.

 

 

directed and edited by Joana Linda with Sara Graça, Francisco Nascimento, Sónia Baptista, Rickybaby Moreira narrator: joana linda sound: Diogo Melo, Joana Linda text: excerpt from the book ‘Island’ by Aldous Huxley

Installation at livraria Sá da Costa bookstore as part of the group exhibition ILHA, inspired by Aldous Huxley’s book. The video was projected on an bookcase with all the books turned as to show only the white paper.