Islanders

11 hand embroideries, cotton thread on acrylic paper, 32 x 23 x 3cm each (framed with UltraVue® glass), 2025

Islands are isolated landforms shaped by water, where separation from the mainland fosters strong endemism. In these environments, flora and fauna evolve independently, shaped by unique microclimates and constrained by limited opportunities for migration. This isolation gives rise to species found nowhere else on Earth; yet also places them at profound risk. Confined by surrounding waters, many island plants are exceptionally vulnerable to shifts in climate, the introduction of foreign species, and ongoing human intervention. Even slight alterations in rainfall patterns can strain endemic species, whose finely tuned adaptations often leave them unable to adjust. In the most fragile cases, these changes can lead to dramatic decline or extinction. The distinctiveness of island plants emerges from their long evolution within specific, original ecosystems – microcosms that water both separates and preserves. The Mediterranean, with its vast biodiversity and wealth of native species, stands as a testament to the ecological richness and delicate balance that such isolation can create.

Dr Elena Stylianou

curator, director of NiMAC