In May 2019 I was privileged to take part in the Super/Collider and Sail Britain Expedition aboard the yacht Alcuin, sailing from Ardrossan to Oban via the Crinan Canal. Alongside lead artist Louise Beer, sailor Oliver Bearden and selected artists Antoine Bertin, Cristina Tarquini, Josefina Nelimarkka, Charles Binns and Eva Köhle, It was a multi-disciplinary residency exploring artistic and scientific topics and ideas from the macro to the micro in the beautiful environment of the Western Isles of Scotland.

Throughout the voyage, as well as learning the basics of sailing using celestial and modern navigation methods, we had the chance to take samples of acidity, plankton and micro plastics within the ocean. Members of the group made recordings in different bodies of water of the sounds produced by the currents and life within. We spent an informative evening exploring the idea of the fluidity of geological time within the unique features found on the Isle of Arran with a local geologist and saw primitive rock art in the hills of Cairnbaan. Using a USB microscope we were able to examine in detail samples collected along the way, including plants, objects collected along the coastlines and microscopic organisms within the water samples. We also discussed at length the issues of plastic pollution along our coastlines and within our oceans, with a stark reminder of the damage being done when we spent the morning exploring an uninhabited island alongside Puilladobhrain Anchorage. It was a very inspiring and rewarding experience.

By working through the photographs taken during the expedition and exploring the ideas inspired by this Residency ‘The Shape of Water’ project and installation piece was created. The completed installation was shown as part of The Fragile Ocean group exhibition in the Lumen Crypt Gallery and St John on Bethnal Green in London from the 21st – 24th November 2019.

For further information on the Expedition, including the other artists taking part, click here.