Nicolas Cilins

"Waiting for the Barbarians” is a purpose-built freestanding panoramic display. The spy-mirrored octagonal structure encapsulates a miniature diorama of scattered sand. White generic human figurines as used in architectural models are placed amidst the dunes on an immobile black disk and create a sense of illusion of perspective and scale.Referencing the infinite repetition of framed still images typical of historical cinema machines, the sculpture offers the viewer a manifold look at the complex relations between museum displays, modernist sculpture and colonial history.