Clément Cogitore's "Ferdinandea" Exhibition at Galerie Nathalie Obadia Explores Phantom Island

Clément Cogitore's exhibition "Ferdinandea" is on view at Galerie Nathalie Obadia in Paris until October 31, 2026. The show centers on Ferdinandea, a volcanic island that emerged in the Mediterranean in 1831 and disappeared months later. Cogitore discovered the story in 2021 through a book found at a bouquiniste in Palermo, which recounted the rise of the underwater volcano Empédocle in the Sicily Channel. The island sparked territorial claims from Great Britain, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, and France, each seeking strategic advantage. Cogitore sees this as a reflection of deeper geopolitical stakes. The project includes the film Incertitude, which begins as a historical documentary and shifts into speculative fiction about the island's reappearance. Cogitore's practice spans cinema and contemporary art, with montage as a central method. He cites Christian Boltanski's work as an early influence, noting its complexity achieved through simple means. The exhibition is free and runs until October 31, 2026.