The Abandoned Cars of Dominica
Rough. That’s the adjective that crosses your mind when thinking of Dominica. Rough like the big waves that incessantly break on the shore of this Caribbean island, dominated by its volcanic landscape, source of its steaming hot springs, jungles. Rough, like its mountains and its rain forests. Indeed for centuries it was an unconquered and forgotten island. Even Christopher Columbus was unable to make a landing here. Nevertheless, after sighting the island on a Sunday, on November 3rd1493, gave it the name Dominica (Latin: dies dominica, “the Lord’s day”).
Today Dominica is still in a semi-virgin state. The island lacks of modern infrastructure; no international airport is here, neither sugar-white beaches nor fancy resorts. The stereotypical Caribbean tourism industry has eluded this island. There are numerous rivers, all of them unnavigable. If you happen to be here, it is certainly not by chance. Serpentine roads are narrow, winding and challenging for most visitors. A couple of main roads will take you from west to east, driving in the woods. Various animals live here: hummingbirds, opossum, a few species of parrots. One of them has even become the national flag symbol. But they are not the only occupants of the forest. Not immediately visible, a few other solitary inhabitants are present.
Abandoned cars, of various forms and ages, rest here.
Burnt, unwanted, corroded, forgotten. Some are partially wrapped in plastic; others sleep in the nude. Some others quietly rest under the shade of palm trees. Only a few sleep in pairs. Their shells sit rusting in the speckled light shining through the trees; some now blend into their surroundings, covered with moss, left at the mercy of Mother Nature.
Each of them must have had a story to tell, a companion to carry around and to be driven by. There must be multiple reasons why these cars are there, not all being known or told. This series show these derelict decaying vehicles that have been relentlessly phagocytized by Dominica’s rough landscape and are now silently part of it.
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