John Akomfrah Archives

Vertigo Sea – John Akomfrah

30 November 2017

This month, we will be exploring the work of the acclaimed artist and filmmaker, John Akomfrah. Vertigo Sea (2015) is a three-screen film installation that draws together archival footage, literary sources and newly shot footage, weaving together narratives of slavery, whaling and the current refugee crisis. Initially prompted by a radio interview with a group of young Nigerian migrants who had survived an illegal crossing of the Mediterranean, it expresses the vast beauty and cruelty of the sea. Vertigo Sea was filmed in Skye, the Faroes, Norway with the BBC Natural History Unit and at its core are two remarkable books: Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick (1851) and Heathcote Williams’ epic poem, Whale Nation (1988). Vertigo Sea was one of the standout works at the Venice Biennale in 2015.

Also on show is a video and sound installation – At the Graveside of Tarkovsky (2012) – a meditation on disappearance, memory and death and an ode to the Russian director Andrei Tarkovsky who inspired Akomfrah as a young filmmaker.

Liverpool Biennial 2012

2-5 November 2012

The Liverpool Biennial 2012 is the UK’s largest festival of contemporary art. Sally Tallant, who was previously Director of the Serpentine Gallery, was appointed Artistic Director and Chief Executive in November 2011.

Liverpool Biennial is presented free to the public every two years over a ten-week period. Alongside the Biennial exhibition, the festival includes the John Moores Painting Prize, Bloomberg New Contemporaries and City States, as well as additional exhibitions presented through a thriving independent scene.

Liverpool Biennial 2012 considers the question of ‘hospitality’ as its starting point under the name of The Unexpected Guest. It brings together the work of 60 artists in venues across the city. Leading and emerging artists have been commissioned to make permanent and temporary public artworks as well as long-term community based project.

For the first time, the iconic Cunard Building – one of Liverpool’s Three Graces sited between the Port of Liverpool Building and the Royal Liver Building – will be used to exhibit contemporary art. The building was once the headquarters and main passenger terminal for the world’s most famous shipping company, the Cunard Steamship Company.

Other venues include Bluecoat, FACT, Open Eye Gallery, Walker Gallery and Tate Liverpool as well as Liverpool One, The Monro and publically sited artworks across the city.

We discussed the work of the following artists: Andrea Bowers, Mona Hatoum, Pamela Rosenkranz, Superflex, Christodoulous Panayioutou, Runo Lagomarsino, Sylvie Blocher, Ahmet Öğűt, Kohei Yoshiyuki, Mark Morrisroe, Sinta Tanra, Keith Arnatt, Gilbert & George, Layla Curtis, Simryn Gill, Sophie Calle, Pak Sheung Chuen, Yael Bartana, Thomas Hirschhorn, Elmgreen & Dragset, Oded Hirsh, Dan Graham, John Akomfrah, Ming Wong, Akram Zaatair, Janine Antoni, Dane Mitchell and Dane Mitchell.

Our weekend trip for members took place from 2-5 November 2012.