Captain Bligh exhibition at the Museum of Garden History

Parabola

Captain Bligh exhibition at the Museum of Garden History

Dead Reckoning : Captain Bligh

Museum of Garden History, Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1
1 February – 1 April 2005
Presented by Parabola and the Museum of Garden History

Private View Thursday 3 February 6 – 9 pm

A temporary exhibition mounted in conjunction with the 250th anniversary of the birth of Captain William Bligh, who is buried in the Museum of Garden History’s grounds and was a local resident in North Lambeth, Dead Reckoning links visual art practice, historical research and museological display with critical, investigative writing and curatorial practice.

Continuing Parabola and the Museum of Garden History’s dedication to producing multi disciplinary displays, publications and contemporary art commissions, the exhibition aims to explore both the fact and fantasy surrounding Bligh’s life. Artist David Cotterrell will construct a ‘simulation’ of Bligh’s historic 5,800km open boat journey taken in the HMS Bounty’s lifeboat. Directly informed by the anecdotal and navigational notes taken from Bligh’s log, Cotterrell’s panoramic first-person view, not unlike a flight simulator, will chart the shifting horizon witnessed by Bligh and his companions on their travels. This work will form the visual focal point of the exhibition. Displayed on a recently developed prismatic screen material that enables the viewer to see projections in full daylight, the installation will allow visitors to experience an immersive space merging with the several separate elements of the entirety of the exhibition.

Local Historian Jon Newman will research and develop a core text relating Bligh’s unique story for this exhibition. This writing will be developed for display alongside relevant archival images taken from collections at the Museum, the Minet Library, the RHS Lindley Library, the National Maritime Museum, London and the Mitchell Library, New South Wales, Australia. As well, some unusual artefacts will complement the projection, images and text. These will include XVIIIc. nautical instruments from HQS Wellington and two very rare American comic books detailing the Mutiny on the Bounty, which will add to the debate between historical fact and myth making.

Two small publications will be produced to further enrich the exhibition. One will fully document the exhibition, including the entirety of Newman’s text, images of ephemera and artefacts and documentation of Cotterrell’s artwork. The second booklet will be a re-print of a text owned by the Museum, Beloved, Respected and Lamented, by JE Chandler.

An Education and Outreach programme targeting local residents, schools and senior citizens will help to invigorate interest in the exhibition for local people. Working with Blackfriars Settlement and a number of local primary and secondary schools including the London Nautical School, Parabola and the Museum of Garden History see this proposed display as a turning point the Museum’s Local Heritage programming. The first in a series of Local Heritage temporary exhibitions, this display will inaugurate the Museum’s permanent Local Heritage display.

For more information, please contact: info@parabolatrust.org or Danielle Arnaud on 020 7735 8292

Supported by Arts Council England

123 Kennington Road London SE11 6SF UK T/F: +44 (0)20 7735 8292 www.parabolatrust.org info@parabolatrust.org

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