Reaching for Dusk
Borders are more than geographic divisions; they are systems of power that regulate movement, access, and exclusion. In Europe, borders define legal systems and cultures, granting privileges to some while restricting others. Modern borders are not just physical —they are biopolitical tools that determine who belongs and who is left behind.
For decades, European governments have outsourced border control to North Africa, turning Tunisia into a key transit and containment zone for people on the move. Policies designed to prevent movement towards Europe leave individuals stranded in limbo— trapped in detention centers, makeshift camps, or abandoned buildings. With no way forward and no way back, many face violence, exploitation, and death.
This project documents these hidden realities. In Tunisia, overcrowded cemeteries for those who drowned at sea, deserted landscapes marked by desperate journeys, and portraits of people stuck in limbo reveal the true cost of Europe’s border policies. The work explores the intersections of displacement, climate crisis, conflict, and structural exclusion—showing how borders create humanitarian emergencies rather than resolving them.
By focusing on Tunisia, Reaching for Dusk challenges dominant narratives about human mobility. It exposes the consequences of externalized border control and highlights the lives and experiences of those too often left unseen.
Find out more:
Website: stefanospaikos.com
Instagram: @stefanospaikos
