I Have Been Here Before

I Have Been Here Before is a poetic, multi-layered video work that draws inspiration from Daniel Massa’s poem Delimara Bay. Through a flow of animated photographic compositions, artist Luke Conroy takes us on a symbolic dive into the geological and cultural history of the Mediterranean. Built from hundreds of photographs taken during his residency in Gozo — together with underwater images — the work unfolds like a sedimentary landscape: each layer revealing fragments of memory, myth, and human impact. From decorative shells on buildings to the names of houses echoing sea legends, the film traces our enduring link to the ocean — one that has now been clouded by waste, microplastics, and irreversible damage. The voice-over of Massa’s poem guides this visual descent: a lyrical meditation suspended between ancient memory, present urgency, and an uncertain future. Conroy’s work doesn’t accuse — it asks. How do we relate to the sea today? What will remain once our traces have reached every seabed? I Have Been Here Before invites a quiet but collective reflection. The ocean — once the origin of life — is becoming an archive of everything we leave behind. The piece explores how cultural memory, environmental impact, and personal identity are all deeply tied to the sea.