Artangel's Q&A

In 2002 while shooting 'Caribs' Leap' in Grenada, McQueen met and filmed a young man called Ashes, but the footage was not used. Many years later he learned that Ashes had been killed. McQueen decided to create a tribute to him, combining old and new footage. One one side of the screen Ashes is shown full of life, his boat moving towards a seemingly unending horizon. The other side shows his tomb being constructed and the etching of a memorial plaque for his grave. Over the soundtrack two local men tell the story of Ashes's untimely death.