Nowhereisland is a unique art project coming to Bristol summer 2012
03/01/2012
Categories: Official press releases
In summer 2012 south west England will welcome an extraordinary visitor. Nowhereisland, a new island nation originating from the Arctic, will travel south in search of citizens. This island territory, to be declared a new nation from September 2011, will journey to England and around 500 nautical miles along the spectacular coastline of south west England, visiting seven ports and harbours during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Image, Max McClure
How it all began
The story of Nowhereisland began in 2004 when artist Alex Hartley searched for and discovered an island which had been revealed by the melting ice of a retreating glacier in the High Arctic region of Svalbard.
In September 2011 Hartley led an expedition team of 18 of the UK’s brightest minds back to the Arctic to retrieve the island territory. Among the intrepid explorers who took part in this unforgettable expedition were Lydia Kate Maloney and Charlie Logan, students of Ilfracombe Arts College. Once in international waters, Hartley officially declared the territory a ‘nation’ – Nowhereisland.
One of Arts Council England’s Artists Taking the Lead commissions, the project will form part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad programme. The island, measuring approximately 40 x 8m, will embark on a 500-mile sea voyage around the south west coast of the UK in summer 2012, accompanied by a land-based, mobile Embassy.
Locations and dates
Moored initially in Weymouth (25 July – 3 August) during the sailing events for the London 2012 Olympic Games, the island will then travel to a further six port towns and cities: Exmouth (4 – 7 August); Plymouth (9 – 12 August); Mevagissey (14 – 17 August); South Cornwall Coast (19 – 22 August); Newquay (23 – 27 August); North Cornwall Coast (28 -31 August); Ilfracombe (1 – 4 September); finishing in Bristol (7 – 9 September) for the final weekend of the Paralympic Games on 8 September 2012.
Please note: dates are weather dependent.
Additional information
Nowhereisland provides a test-site for the formation of a new nation, inviting us to consider and debate some of the key issues of our time – including migration, nationhood, global responsibility, human rights and climate change – by becoming Citizens of Nowhereisland. To date there are 4,268 people from more than 54 countries across the world have registered to become Citizens via the project’s website: www.nowhereisland.org.
Each week over the next year, 52 Resident Thinkers will publish an online, open letter to Nowhereisland’s Citizens – these will include artist, peace activist and musician Yoko Ono, radio and television journalist Sir John Tusa, human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, columnist Suzanne Moore, Economics Nobel Prize winner Simon Anholt, sustainable farmer Mark Diacono and comedian Natalie Haynes. Two secondary schools in the South West of England, Ilfracombe Arts College and Budmouth College will use Nowhereisland as a cross-curricular project this academic year and three student explorers joined the Arctic expedition in September 2011. The British Red Cross will also support the project’s extensive public engagement programme.
Phil Gibby, Arts Council England Director for the South West said: “Nowhereisland will involve thousands of people throughout the South West and further afield, giving them an opportunity to be part of one of the biggest arts projects of the Cultural Olympiad. We want as many people as possible to have the opportunity to experience great art, and this project gives people the chance to become Citizens of the island, take part in the debate or simply enjoy the experience of seeing the island appear during 2012.”
Claire Doherty, Director of Situations at the University of the West of England said: “Situations is delighted to be producing this ambitious project. Nowhereisland is an example of how artists are changing the way in which we view public art. No longer sitting mutely atop a plinth, public art is now dynamic and participatory, which promises unexpected encounters in unusual places.”
About The Artist
Working primarily with photography, often incorporating it into sculpture and installation, Alex Hartley's work addresses complicated and sometimes contradictory attitudes toward the built and natural environments. Born in 1963, Hartley lives and works in Devon, UK. A graduate of the Royal College of Art in 1990, Hartley has exhibited extensively in both national and international exhibitions at venues including The Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh (2007) and The Natural History Museum, London (2006). Forthcoming exhibitions include a solo show at Victoria Miro Gallery, London (18 November 2011 - 21 January 2012).
About Nowhereisland
Nowhereisland is an Artists Taking the Lead project, part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. It is produced by Situations at the University of the West of England, Bristol and funded by Arts Council England. We also gratefully acknowledge the support of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Royal Norwegian Embassy and Nicky Wilson Jupiter Artland.
About Artists Taking the Lead
Nowhereisland is part of Artists Taking the Lead, a series of 12 public art commissions across the UK to celebrate the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. Arts Council England is delivering the project in partnership with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Creative Scotland and the Arts Council of Wales. For more information visit:
www.artiststakingthelead.org.uk
About Situations
Situations is a visual arts commissioning and research programme, based at the University of the West of England, Bristol. Established in 2003, Situations produces both permanently-sited and temporary public artworks in the UK and internationally, as well as curatorial research, public events, talks and seminars and publications. Situations is committed to supporting the production of exceptional new work and projects, often in response to a specific context, location or situation.
The programme has worked with artists including Phil Collins, Nathan Coley, Susan Hiller, Joao Penalva, Jeppe Hein, Roman Ondák, Hew Locke, Lara Favaretto, Tim Etchells, Ruth Claxton, raumlaborberlin and Ivan and Heather Morison. For more information visit: www.situations.org.uk
Media may contact Jessica McDonald at jessica.mcdonald@destinationbristol.co.uk or +44(0)117 946 2206.
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