Appeal to move "the ship in the bottle" to the NMM

[anteros_lmc]

A public appeal has been launched in the UK to secure a permanent home for Yinka Shonibare's Nelson's Ship in a Bottle at the new Sammy Ofer Wing at the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich. The ship is one of a series of temporary exhibits currently occupying the "fourth plinth" in Trafalgar Square but it is due to be replaced in January. The UK Art Fund has donated £50,000 to the appeal but a further £362,500 is required to ensure the sculpture remains on permanent display to the public.



Nelson's Ship in a Bottle, photographed by esmerelda_t

Yinka Shonibare was born in London, raised in Nigeria and works in East London. The ship is described by the Art Fund as:

...a painstakingly crafted 1/30th replica of Nelson’s HMS Victory, the battleship on which he died during the Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805. The artist calls a ship in a bottle ‘an object of wonder’.

Its richly patterned textiles – used for the sails – are of course a departure from the original. These were inspired by Indonesian batik, mass-produced by Dutch traders and sold in West Africa. Today these designs are associated with African dress and identity. In such ways, the piece celebrates the cultural richness and ethnic diversity of the United Kingdom, and also initiates conversations about this country’s past as a colonial power.

The work is the first commission on the Fourth Plinth to reflect specifically on the historical symbolism of Trafalgar Square, which commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar, and links directly with Nelson’s column.

There are lots of ways to contribute to the campaign to save this art work for the public, which are outlined on the Art Fund website here. One of the fund raising opportunities listed which caught my eye is a tour of the former Admiralty Boardroom and Headquarters by the Curator of the Ministry of Defence Art Collection. There are only two tours available, one is already sold out but tickets are still available for the second on the 7th December for £35.

Comments

[mylodon.livejournal.com]

Wish I could get there!

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

*sigh* Me too!

[esmerelda-t.livejournal.com]

Damn it why is it all day events! I'd be sorely tempted by that if it was in the evening.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

I know :/ And this one sounds like a real one off opportunity.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_likimeya/]

It would be great if it remained on display! I'd love to see it sometime.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

I thought the ship sounded a bit tacky when it was selected for the Fourth Plinth but it actually looked fantastic! And people seemed to really like it which is a big plus for a piece of public art :)

[sarlania.livejournal.com]

I thought it was a temporary feature of Trafalgar Square when I saw it. Huh goes to show it really should be preserved.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Aye, all the Fourth Plinth exhibits are temporary. I believe the ship is going to be replaced by a boy and a rocking horse and in 2013 there will be a giant blue cock!

I do hope they mange to raise enough to save the ship, it deserves a home at Greenwich.