Walking still, a drifting pursuit
James Hankey
The Wanderers, 2015
James Hankey
The Wanderers, 2015
Photos: Oliver Raymond BarkerThe Wanderers was a series of six commissions for early career artists creating temporary interventions and live events. The project was produced by Field Notes and held within the public spaces of Falmouth and The Carrick Roads between August - November 2015. It was intended as an off-site, parallel programme to Newlyn Art Gallery’s exhibition In Search of The Miraculous, a show inspired by and marking the 40th anniversary of a voyage made by Dutch artist Bas Jan Ader. The Wanderers brought together a group of developing artists that go beyond the horizon in pursuit of new experiences and precarious journeys; the final commission, a legacy publication by Medium Rare, was launched in December 2015 to document and extend the projects.
Walking still, a drifting pursuit, James Hankey, 2015
Artist, bespoke low threshold raft, with quick release ballast and in-built treadmill
In 1975 artist Bas Jan Ader went missing at sea during an attempt to sail solo across the Atlantic from Cape Cod to Falmouth, for what became his final work In Search of The Miraculous. The influence of Ader’s work can be felt within the practice of many contemporary artists, from big names like Mat Collishaw and Francis Alÿs to developing artists and recent graduates. Perhaps unsurprisingly, generations of students from Falmouth School of Art, including those commissioned for The Wanderers, have been drawn to the works of this enigmatic and ground-breaking artist, influenced by different aspects of Ader’s practice, from the pursuit of precarious journeys to the poetry of futility.
James Hankey used his commission to undertake a powerful, yet futile, solo pilgrimage across the open waters off of Falmouth, on 31st August 2015. Walking still, a drifting pursuit was a one-off performance that tested James’ idea to purposefully drift across Falmouth Bay; creating the illusion of a hike across the sea. Taking place on a sunny bank holiday Monday, he set out with the support of the local sea scouts and created quite a spectacle. The commission was dependent on multiple factors that lay beyond our control; good weather, directional winds, tide and the school holidays!
Drawing on ideas around the power and futility of an individual journey, James created a raft to support a treadmill, so that from a distance it appeared that he was walking across the surface of the ocean. The platform was towed out from Swanpool beach at roughly 10am (near high tide and before the beach became busy), with James embarking it at a suitable location beyond the yellow buoys. He drifted on the floatation platform several hundred metres out to sea, between Swanpool and Castle beach in Falmouth.
Though there was no destination planned, the performance was considerably shorter in duration than expected. The unanticipated strength of the offshore wind increased the wave height, causing a necessary intervention by the sea scouts. At two miles out to sea, James was towed back. The added stresses of being towed towards the on-coming waves, meant that one of four buoyancy aids fell off, and demanded the full assistance of the sea scouts!
The performance rapidly became invisible to viewers on the beach, however James’ return to shore drew a large number of onlookers. The work was well received on social media, lending itself to the spectacles that become popular on these platforms.
Artist, bespoke low threshold raft, with quick release ballast and in-built treadmill
In 1975 artist Bas Jan Ader went missing at sea during an attempt to sail solo across the Atlantic from Cape Cod to Falmouth, for what became his final work In Search of The Miraculous. The influence of Ader’s work can be felt within the practice of many contemporary artists, from big names like Mat Collishaw and Francis Alÿs to developing artists and recent graduates. Perhaps unsurprisingly, generations of students from Falmouth School of Art, including those commissioned for The Wanderers, have been drawn to the works of this enigmatic and ground-breaking artist, influenced by different aspects of Ader’s practice, from the pursuit of precarious journeys to the poetry of futility.
James Hankey used his commission to undertake a powerful, yet futile, solo pilgrimage across the open waters off of Falmouth, on 31st August 2015. Walking still, a drifting pursuit was a one-off performance that tested James’ idea to purposefully drift across Falmouth Bay; creating the illusion of a hike across the sea. Taking place on a sunny bank holiday Monday, he set out with the support of the local sea scouts and created quite a spectacle. The commission was dependent on multiple factors that lay beyond our control; good weather, directional winds, tide and the school holidays!
Drawing on ideas around the power and futility of an individual journey, James created a raft to support a treadmill, so that from a distance it appeared that he was walking across the surface of the ocean. The platform was towed out from Swanpool beach at roughly 10am (near high tide and before the beach became busy), with James embarking it at a suitable location beyond the yellow buoys. He drifted on the floatation platform several hundred metres out to sea, between Swanpool and Castle beach in Falmouth.
Though there was no destination planned, the performance was considerably shorter in duration than expected. The unanticipated strength of the offshore wind increased the wave height, causing a necessary intervention by the sea scouts. At two miles out to sea, James was towed back. The added stresses of being towed towards the on-coming waves, meant that one of four buoyancy aids fell off, and demanded the full assistance of the sea scouts!
The performance rapidly became invisible to viewers on the beach, however James’ return to shore drew a large number of onlookers. The work was well received on social media, lending itself to the spectacles that become popular on these platforms.
FUNDERS AND PARTNERS
The Wanderers was produced in partnership with Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange, running in parallel to their international exhibition In Search of The Miraculous. With thanks to National Trust, Falmouth University, Arts Council England, FEAST, School for Social Entrepreneurs, First Great Western, Falmouth Art Gallery, Falmouth Library, Falmouth Town Council, Royal Cornwall Yacht Club, Falmouth Harbour Commissioners, Falmouth and Penryn Sea Cadets and Falmouth Shout Shanty Singers.
The Wanderers was produced in partnership with Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange, running in parallel to their international exhibition In Search of The Miraculous. With thanks to National Trust, Falmouth University, Arts Council England, FEAST, School for Social Entrepreneurs, First Great Western, Falmouth Art Gallery, Falmouth Library, Falmouth Town Council, Royal Cornwall Yacht Club, Falmouth Harbour Commissioners, Falmouth and Penryn Sea Cadets and Falmouth Shout Shanty Singers.
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info@fieldnotes.org.ukThe development of this website was supported by Cultivator Cornwall
