the djahazi boats

for the first time the union of the comoro islands will participate in the 53rd international
art exhibition - venice biennial presenting djhazi, a project by italian artist
paolo w. tamburella.

the djahazi boats have been for centuries the only means of transport for comorians,
a way to communicate with the nearby countries in the mozambique channel and to
create new commercial relations. in modern times these traditional vessels have been
used to transport shipping containers from cargo boast to the capital moroni.

in 2006, following the modernization of the port, the use of the djahazi was prohibited,
thus interrupting a longstanding tradition of comorian dockers on the islands.

in 2008 paolo w tamburella travelled for the first time to comoros in the effort to
understand what happened to the dockers and to their boats. he discovered that
the djahazis had been abandoned in the port and were sinking in the water.
in 2009 tamburella went for the second time to comoros. in a month long effort
the artist and the dockers focussed on the restoration process of one of the djahazi
with the goal to ship it and presnt in the context of the la next biennale.
the djahazi was split in half and placed in a 40ft container that is currently
travelling to europe.

the djahazi will be assembled. loaded with a shipping container to dock for all
the duration of the biennale in the water at the main entrance to the giardini.


construction of the djahazi boats



the djahazi boats


the djahazi boats



the djahazi boats in venice