Edison Peñafiel: De Profundis Clamavi ad Astra
(From the Depths, I Cried Out to the Stars)

Production | Exhibition Grant

The sea emerges as both a cradle of life and a site of relentless struggle in De Profundis Clamavi ad Astra (From the Depths, I Cried Out to the Stars), a new immersive installation by Miami-based multidisciplinary artist Edison Peñafiel. Transforming Locust Projects’s 2,800-sqft gallery, the 30-minute video work unfolds across an undulating 170-foot loop of linear projection space. The work engulfs visitors in a haunting, otherworldly underwater realm brought to life through high-definition animation and a resonant orchestral soundscape composed by Peñafiel. Stark contrasts of light and shadow create a surreal, beautifully macabre environment, evoking humanity’s cyclical journey through adversity, resilience, and renewal. Layered visuals and sound converge to evoke and confront themes of loss and transformation associated with political and historical realities of migration, displacement, and the desecration of sacred lands. By drawing on timeless archetypes and universal narratives on life, death, salvation, and resurrection, this riveting installation offers a visceral space for reflection and hope for renewal.