Date: Saturday 20th November 2021
Location: LV21 Lightship, Gravesend
Cost: Free
Overview
A team of researchers from the University of Kent and artists will host a discussion and art exhibition on the ecology of the Thames Estuary aboard Gravesend’s historic floating art space LV21 Lightship on Saturday 20 November (3-6pm).
The free exhibition Estuary Café is part of the national Being Human festival of the humanities and is funded by the Creative Estuary Ideas Lab. The exhibition will reflect on the value of the Thames Estuary environment, challenging the suggestion that it is ‘unused’ and serves no purpose.
Focusing on the Isle of Grain at the tip of the Hoo Peninsula, the Estuary Café will engage visitors in the debate about the Estuary’s identity and how it is used and valued by both humans and wildlife.
The artwork will include the sound installation ‘Waterbug Voices’, composed by Kent’s Dr Aki Pasoulas, which explores the underwater world of the marshes of the Isle of Grain and a series of images and photographs connected via the theme of ‘Invitation/Warning’.
These will be accompanied by the research team’s field notes and interactive elements in which visitors can offer their own perspectives on the Thames Estuary environment. This will include ‘postcard provocations’ of statements and questions that invite written responses for the visitors.
The project team works across the arts and sciences, with contributions from Dr Robert Barker, Senior Lecturer in Chemistry and Forensic in the University of Kent, the School of Arts, artist and SPACER director Sarah Craske and creative writer Caroline Millar.
Dr Lavinia Brydon, Senior Lecturer in Film and Principal Investigator of Estuary Café said: ‘The Estuary Café is an excellent chance for the anyone interested in the ecology of the area to come and take in the expressive art resulting from project work to date and to voice their opinions with others. That shared discussion is just as important as the expression in the artwork.’
As LV21 is a historic ship, access aboard is limited with main entry via a gangway and a steep staircase. Please wear flat, non-slip shoes when visiting.
