SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST PRODUCTIONS
Presents
S H I P O F L O V E
"As on the stormy sea which extends without limit on all sides, howling mountainous waves
rise up and sink and a sailor sits in a row boat, trusting a weak craft, so, in the midst of a
world of torments, the solitary man sits peacefully, supported by and trusting in the principium
individuationus (the principle of individuality)".
A. Schopenhauer
The framework of this project is designed to invite artists from the UK and abroad to
explore "dark matter" through agencies of light.
Contributors are challenged to examine the notions of crisis, homeostasis and catastrophe in
terms of both the individual psyche and the wider natural environment, in order to engage and
grapple with the dualities of creativity and destructiveness, and their impact on our contemporary
world and to examine the ways in which these forces might well affect our personal
and environmental futures.
During this journey selected participants will contribute to the central installation:
The transformation of a 20ft sailing boat (the ship of love), an obsolete saloon car (the car of futility) and a removal van, converted into a DVD projection unit (the van of hate), which is designed to be fully broadband connected to the hosting venue and internet giving full access to the 'video archive', via the website.
The project is scheduled to culminate in a year-long touring show, (October 2011-12), and the associated performance elements and main installation works resulting from the project are intended to be hosted by participating Arts venues in East Anglia and throughout the UK.
Collaboration will be central to the production of the new work and will be developed and produced by artists in the fields of the visual arts, music, and the performing arts, with the central installation being designed for location outside the main Museum and gallery spaces utilising courtyards, gardens and public areas.
Ship of Love is to be accompanied by a catalogue, 'Navigational Errors' which will
invite contributions from emerging writers with an interest in the themes central to the project.
Ship of Love is currently led by Artist Mark Ross, Co-Director Artistspace, London and participant at Clavering Studios HQ, Essex, which is proposed as the physical home of the project.