A Floating Art Research Platform in the Baltic Sea
18-24 August, 2019
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Artist duo Andy Best & Merja Puustinen have been invited to a one-week micro-residency at SOLU Space of the Bioart Society in August 2019. During their residency the aim is to prototype a floating art research platform on their sailing catamaran Godzilla. We are looking for project proposals and experiments to be carried out on the vessel in the sea in and around Helsinki. The work duration on the vessel can be from one to three days in length and both from individuals or small groups.
Please send your proposal until Monday June 17th to info@bioartsociety.fi
For questions regarding the vessel please contact andy.best@aalto.fi
More info below!
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Biotaiteen seura on kutsunut taiteilijakaksikko Andy Bestin ja Merja Puustisen viikon mittaiseen mikroresidenssiin SOLU-tilaan elokuussa 2019. Residenssijaksonsa aikana Best ja Puustinen testaavat uudenlaista, vesillä liikkuvaa taiteen tutkimuksen alustaa Godzilla-nimisellä katamaraanillaan. Etsimme nyt projektiehdotuksia Helsingissä ja sen lähivesillä toteutettavaksi. Projektit voivat olla yhden–kolmen päivän mittaisia ja niitä voivat ehdottaa sekä yksittäiset taiteilijat ja tutkijat että pienet ryhmät.
Lähetä ehdotuksesi maanantaihin 17.6. mennessä: info@bioartsociety.fi
Alukseen ja käytännön seikkoihin liittyviin kysymyksiin vastaa Andy Best: andy.best@aalto.fi
Lisätietoa alla!
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[Text by Andy Best & Merja Puustinen]
Imagining Godzilla
An Art Research Platform
Open Call for Proposals
We invite proposals for Imagining Godzilla - short-term, semi-residential projects to be carried out on the sailing catamaran Godzilla during the period 18-24 August, 2019. During this time, Godzilla will be moored in Helsinki Marina near to SOLU Space in Katajanokka, Helsinki, providing a mobile, floating "home base" for artistic research projects. On Saturday 24th August there will be a wrap-up event at SOLU, with presentation of the various residency projects and open discussion around themes raised.
We offer Godzilla as a mobile platform for undertaking artistic and other forms of research that are appropriate for a sailing vessel. The shallow draft (less than 1m) allows the boat to get close inshore. Under sail, the boat cruises comfortably at between 6 to 8 knots. This means that the Estonian coast is just a few hours away. The twin-hulled catamaran form provides a wide and stable platform underway, at anchor, or in harbour for various types of activity.
We invite artists and other researchers who are interested to use this platform for a short, experimental research trip, to imagine how a residency project of this kind might work. At this stage, there are no restrictions, so please use your imagination to help us develop a unique residency platform. Our aim is to develop Godzilla into an artistic residency and expedition vessel. This residency opportunity is part of the prototyping phase. Explain briefly what is the aim of your project proposal, and how this will be achieved with the help of Godzilla. Please also describe any sailing or boating experience you may have.
This year, due to the short time available, projects will take place near to Helsinki and in the Gulf of Finland. Residencies will be one to three days in length. Proposals are welcome from individuals or small groups.
Some possible project ideas:
• Aerial photography using drone
• Accessing remote island for artistic activity
• Experimental music or performance platform
• Water sample collection
• Surveying extent of blue algae blooms
• Wildlife observation
• Other types of data collection and remote sensing
The Vessel
Godzilla is a Pahi 42 polynesian style sailing catamaran designed by James Wharram. Wharram was the first person to sail a catamaran across the Atlantic ocean in the 1950's, and is regarded as one of the pioneers of multihull sailing. The Pahi 42 is designed for ocean sailing, and is a stable and seaworthy craft. Godzilla has sleeping accommodation in the hulls for five, with room on deck for about ten people for day sailing. She has a cutter rig and twin outboard motors. There is a galley for cooking, and a chemical toilet. The boat has full navigational equipment, including chart plotter, radar, A.I.S., VHF radio, and all appropriate safety equipment and a six-person life raft. There is ample storage space for other equipment and supplies. There is also a 10' dinghy with outboard, oars, and sailing rig, for exploring creeks and bays.
About the artists
Andy Best and Merja Puustinen's background is in sculpture, video and installation art. They were amongst the first artists working online, and during the mid to late 1990's created beautiful, but provocative, multiuser 3D worlds on the internet. They focus on developing playful, physically engaging installations and interactive works. They have recently founded Espoo Kunsthalle, an initiative to bring critically engaged art to the suburban areas of Espoo. Best & Puustinen have been awarded the Finnish State Prize for media art in 1998 and won the Katrineholm environmental art competition Ljusare Konst – Tryggare Stad 2016 in Sweden. In spring 2019 they have had a private exhibition Cul-de-sac at Galleria Sculptor and participated in Art Fair Suomi. During summer 2019 they are participating in Sculpture Expanded, an experimental laboratory for public sculpture in the Helsinki area.