The Migration Gallery Literary Award now has a visual soul — a sculpture that tells a story beyond words.
This year, thanks to the extraordinary talent of artist Ester Crocetta, the prize for our Literary Award will not only recognize the voices of migration but will also symbolize the depth and complexity of the human journey it represents.
With generosity, sensitivity, and remarkable creativity, Crocetta has given shape to something deeply intangible: the ongoing search for belonging, identity, and transformation that lies at the heart of migration.
This was no simple task. Migration is a universal experience — a right, a movement as old as humanity itself. It carries layers of complexity: leaving and arriving, loss and renewal, roots and wings.
The result is “I’M MIGRATION”, a sculptural piece that captures the very essence of that journey.
In the words of Rocco Maragna, founder of the Gallery:
“This sculptural piece embodies the essence of migration through its fluid yet fragmented form. Cast in a luminous white material, it suggests both resilience and transformation, evoking the journey of individuals, both physical and metaphysical. The base of the sculpture is solid and rooted, representing origins, heritage, and the foundation of identity. As the form ascends, it begins to twist and open, conveying movement, adaptation, and the inevitable change that migration brings. One side of the sculpture bears a jagged, almost geological texture, reminiscent of landscapes shaped by time, while the opposite side curves inward, forming an elegant spiral—perhaps a nod to the cyclical nature of history, memory, and cultural transmission. The reaching, delicate extensions at the top appear as if grasping toward the unknown, a poetic representation of hope, struggle, and new beginnings. The overall shape recalls both a cresting wave and an unfolding wing, reinforcing themes of passage, flight, and rebirth. Crocetta’s work speaks to the emotional and existential dimensions of migration, capturing the tension between departure and arrival, loss and renewal. The void at its centre may symbolize the space left behind or the transformative space where identities are reshaped. This piece is not just an award; it is a symbol of the ever-evolving narrative of migration, a sculptural metaphor for those who navigate between worlds, carrying fragments of their past while shaping new futures.”
The title itself, “I’M MIGRATION”, holds a powerful double meaning. In English, it declares “I am migration,” an affirmation that migration is not an abstract phenomenon but something personal, embodied, and lived. Without the apostrophe, the word becomes “IMMIGRATION” — a reminder of the process of moving towards something: a new life, a new identity, a new home.
With this piece, Ester Crocetta has transformed a concept into something tangible and deeply evocative. “I’M MIGRATION” will stand as a lasting symbol of the Gallery’s mission — to honor the stories, the emotions, and the courage that shape the experience of migration.
