Inner Sea

‘the boat is a floating piece of space, a place without a place, that exists by itself, that is closed in on itself and at the same time is given over to the infinity of the sea (…) : it is the greatest reserve of the imagination. The ship is the heterotopia par excellence. In civilizations without boats, dreams dry up...’
Michel Foucault. Of Other Spaces (1967), Heterotopias.

2011-2012
Site specific installation at Camden Fort, Crosshaven, Ireland.
Work comissioned by Cork County Council.

Inner sea is a temporary site-specific installation commissioned by Cork County Council for the re-opening of  Fort Camden in Crosshaven. 
An abandoned room of the fort with a blue green paint flaking away is filled up with water. The ‘inner sea’ brings the place to life in a dreamlike atmosphere: the water reflects the arched ceiling and makes the room feel very deep - would Alice in Wonderland fall down there to reach unknown worlds? -and, when you look up, you can see through the window the real sea. Tiny boats float on the surface. Fragile small fleet, they look like a naval army from a child’s perspective. 
War as a game, with boats that would only reach overseas in fairy tales; here they drift slowly with the currents, or go through patches of fog…