Mowgli Boat
REAL CLUB NAUTIC de Barcelona
September 7th and 8th, 18:00 – 20:00
Within the Context of
Manifesta 15 Biennale
Puig Vela Clàssica Barcelona Regatta
37th American Cup Regatta
Barcelona will host a series of important events in early September, including Manifesta 15 Biennale, which will feature a cultural cross-pollination between metropolitan cities and Barcelona, and the two regattas Puig Vela Clàssica Barcelona and 37th American Cup, which will highlight cultural maritime heritage. Both missions inspired MARLANDS Project, to organize an art exhibition which would foster a reciprocal exchange and an analogous cross-pollination that extends beyond the terrestrial territories, connecting the city of Barcelona with the Mediterranean Sea.
MARLANDS Project proudly presents The Boat of Vociferous Winds, a contemporary art project of two individual shows simultaneously hosted on Mowgli boat, a classic sailing vessel. The Boat of Vociferous Winds is facilitating a dialogue between sailing, marine culture and contemporary art. At the core of the project are the works of Patrick Harris and Klitsa Antoniou. The title of the exhibition alludes to Homer’s legendary Odysseus tale, where the sacred deity Aeolus bestows the winds. Within this framework, the winds denote the creative voices that arise and transform the surrounding environment.
Klitsa Antoniou’s installation Hydor_is_Land (2023) alludes to a location of a coastal landscape or a seascape and reveals the vastness of the underwater space, which is characterized by alternating transparency and material intensity. The project is a collaboration with Dr José Rafael García March/Scientific Consultant, George Lazoglou/Technological Design and Ruben Solar Ru/Sound Composition. The artwork addresses issues pertinent to the case of Cyprus and more specifically the invasion of alien species to its coast as a result of climate change and human activities and confirms the magnitude of the devastation of human impact. Cyprus is one of the first EU states affected by the “Lessepsian migration”, the movement of marine species across the Suez Canal, from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. This invasion substantially affects the marine ecology causing the reduction of local species and biodiversity. On another reading the invasion of alien species on islandic coasts, offers a metaphorical analogy with military invasions pertinent to the historical context of Mediterranean coasts.
Patrick Harris, known for his Sea Collages, captures the essence of his maritime experiences through his installation. He will transform the Mowgli boat with a series of vibrant flags made from nylon sail material. These flags create a cohesive living collage that interacts with the wind, producing a landscape that reflects emotions through colors. This dynamic interplay evokes a myriad of memories associated with the Mediterranean, including classical philosophy, meridional aesthetics, and archaeological treasures. The picturesque beaches, turquoise waters and local culture serve as a backdrop, flooding our consciousness with their allure, like in the works of Homer, Albert Camus, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Fernand Braudel.
The artists’ works compel spectators to reflect upon the intricate interplay between nature and art, as well as the anthropogenic influence on the marine ecosystem. They accentuate the divergent aspects of aesthetics and catastrophe in the Mediterranean area.
The event is curated by Elena Posokhova, art curator and project coordinator of MARLANDS, Maritima01 and POUSH, with curatorial assistance Evgenia Makarshina.
Biographical Notes
Klitsa Antoniou’s work delves into issues of space, confinement, personal and political borders, and censorship in order to provide an immersive, empathic, multisensorial and participatory experience. She studied at Wimbledon School of Art and Saint Martin’s School of Art and Design (BFA) in London, at Pratt Institute (Master in Fine Arts) and New York University (DA) in New York. Since 2014, she holds a PhD in Theory and Philosophy of Art. As an artist and researcher with interdisciplinary practice she attended numerous seminars, workshops, conferences, and artists-residencies in many countries and won a number of awards and honours. She is the founder and coordinator of Cut Contemporary Fine Arts Lab since 2019. She has presented more than 20 solo exhibitions internationally including Making Waves, Porvoo Art Hall, Finland, 2022; De Skyddssökande, Norrkoping, Sweden, 2019; Parallelotopias, MIET, Thessaloniki, Greece, 2012; Tall Tales: Lovely Landmarks, Exhibit Gallery, Golden Lane Estate, Barbican, London, UK, 2010; Frames of the Elusive, Stoa Gallery, Finland, 2006; Atlantropa: Episodes of Domestic Nature, Eastlink Gallery, Shanghai, China, 2005; Atlantropa: Stories of Dystopia, Chinese European Art Centre, Xiamen, China, 2004. She has exhibited in major museums, galleries, art institutions and unique spaces worldwide. In 2019, she represented Malta at the Venice Biennale with the work Atlantropa-X. She lives and works in Cyprus.
Patrick Molony Harris is an artist and sailor who makes pictures about the sea. The Mediterranean coastline, islands and sailing inspire his paintings. His work as a marine artist aims to increase people´s awareness of the oceans and its creatures by documenting sailing trips and voyages. Born and educated in England, Patrick Harris trained as an artist in the UK at Winchester School of Art BA (Hons) and Universidad de Belles Artes de Sevilla (Erasmus). He has lived in Mallorca since 1998 and has spent 30 years making and exhibiting his paintings about the sea. His paintings have been showcased in 18 solo exhibitions and in numerous group shows. He is also a keen sailor. His work has been exhibited at the 2022 Palma Vela regatta and his images have been used in numerous regatta posters for the Real Club Nautico de Palma. The recent exhibition here at BMC in STP shipyard aims to encourage people who use the sea to become more aware of their surroundings and encourage respect for the natural environment.
MARLANDS project raises awareness about environmental challenges in the Mediterranean and focuses on Islands’ ecosystems and culture. Through contemporary art projects, it sensitizes society and builds collaborations between artists, scientists, and the public. The project proposes a hybrid approach, combining digital platforms with existing structures for a more environmentally friendly way of working. Cultural and research institutions come together in MARLANDS to address the perception that islands are only vacation destinations. The project recognizes islands as culturally rich places where different cultures intersect. With Mediterranean islands facing dangerous climatic changes, it is crucial to focus on their development and preserve their unique history. MARLANDS seeks to revive the idea of moving to an island for a new form of life in harmony with nature. By fusing art, scientific research, history, and mythology, MARLANDS reimagines coexistence with nature on islands. The project aims to uncover and show the issues facing Mediterranean islands and create a collaborative network that celebrates each island’s uniqueness. It also raises awareness of scientific research, empowering audiences to be cocreators with artists and scientists, and involving the native population in the process.
Supported by:
Cultural foundation Casa Rusa Barcelona and Anna Silyunas.
Curatorial Assistance by Evgenia Makarshina.
