The project comprises 27 works that form a map of borders and the history of the European Union.
Each piece corresponds to a particular member country, and the entangled lines represent the overall length of the borders in scale. The black shapes represent the neighboring nations. Given considerable internal differences, the EU currently struggles to find its identity and future direction.
The works' order is organized chronologically according to the European Union's history. Thus, the pieces start at the birthdate of what would eventually become the European Union, generally considered the effective date of the Treaty of Rome, January 1, 1958.
First, the six founding countries - France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Italy, and Germany agreed on a common market, thus forming the beginnings of the EU. Later, in 1973, Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom joined as well. Then Greece in 1981. Five years later, in 1986, Spain and Portugal both joined the EU, followed by Austria, Sweden, and Finland in 1995. Almost a decade later, in 2004, the EU included additional members: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, and Malta. In 2007 Bulgaria and Romania joined, and finally Croatia in 2013.
The missing 9th piece refers to the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union in January 2020. The UK left after 47 years of having been a member state.
Each piece corresponds to a particular member country, and the entangled lines represent the overall length of the borders in scale. The black shapes represent the neighboring nations. Given considerable internal differences, the EU currently struggles to find its identity and future direction.
The works' order is organized chronologically according to the European Union's history. Thus, the pieces start at the birthdate of what would eventually become the European Union, generally considered the effective date of the Treaty of Rome, January 1, 1958.
First, the six founding countries - France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Italy, and Germany agreed on a common market, thus forming the beginnings of the EU. Later, in 1973, Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom joined as well. Then Greece in 1981. Five years later, in 1986, Spain and Portugal both joined the EU, followed by Austria, Sweden, and Finland in 1995. Almost a decade later, in 2004, the EU included additional members: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, and Malta. In 2007 Bulgaria and Romania joined, and finally Croatia in 2013.
The missing 9th piece refers to the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union in January 2020. The UK left after 47 years of having been a member state.