Life-boats
A sailing sculpturel installation in ferrocement by Marit Benthe Norheim
The exhibition consists of models on a scale of 1:5 in concrete and 1:40 in bronze, lithographies, sketches, concept descriptions, photo manipulations and animations as well as technical drawings and calculations from Marine Design A/S which will make them seaworthy and eligible for a CE certification. The "Life-Boats" project relates to sculpture, architecture, boat construction and engineering in collaboration with one another.
The preparatory work is presented as an art project within itself.
I am working towards creating three female sculptures in cement, which will become functioning boats. They will be about 12 metres long and 3 metres tall and have space for passengers. The boats will be powered by electrical motors driven by alternative energy.
The "Lifeboats" will sail from Northern Jutland via Zeeland in Denmark and on to the European canals, which lead ships through the town centres of Europe that are built up along the old waterways. We will anchor in several locations, and invite people into the interiors of the female sculptures, which are adapted sculpturally and contain sound installations by the Norwegian composer, Geir Johnson. At the same time, a cultural exchange will take place. Every city will meet us with their own performance artists, dancers, musicians, actors, artists, etc. In addition, I will involving different population groups directly in the making of the project during the journey, just as I have done in several other projects.
Every sculpture has its own identity and story. The individual titles are: My ship is loaded with longing - My ship is loaded with life - My ship is loaded with memories.
The boat sculptures will be made in Ferro cement, a flexible and rational building material, which is also used in the construction of boats. I have over 25 years of experience with this material and willl be collaborating with engineers and cement consultants. CDE Danish Marine Design ApS www.cde-dmd.com and Brondby Boat equipment and builders, www.brondby-baadbyg.dk, will ensure seaworthiness and CE certification of the Ferro cement boat sculptures.
A realistic date for completion of the installation will be summer of 2012 or 2013, depending on how long it takes to secure funding.
Marit Benthe Norheim
“Life-boats” invite the viewers to experience something new and unexpected, which they will not have experienced in either the artistic world or in their everyday lives. These ”Life Boats” can enhance new lines of movement in the environment and institute new directions of seeing. And they will contain a special sensory experience, which will promote sides of our inner and outer reality, which we often overlook and possibly don’t know at all. The art creates meaning in the public space, but does so in a special way.
In a world where there are often contradictions between population groups and nationalities, the ”Life Boats” will create new life-affirming relations between people and symbolise the desire for fellowhip and respect for one another, which is always at the top of our agenda, but which we often have had problems with realising.”
Dr. Phil. Else Marie Bukdahl, former Rector of the Danish Royal Academy of Art
The exhibition can be seen in the Spidsgatterhal from 22. May - 1. August. 2010
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