bleuira, 1993
A direct translation of bleuira from the French would be to become blue, however a more precise translation describes that moment when the coastline seems to disappear from the horizon as the blue of the sky and sea merge.
The installation consists of ten, circular steel light boxes illuminating color transparencies of the ocean. The only light in the room, other than the blue hue created by the backlit images, is a diffused halogen spotlight directed at a marine compass, embedded in a binnacle standing on the gallery floor. An electronic magnet is hidden under the compass and set to go on and off by an electronic timer. When the magnet is off, the compass points north, when the magnet is on, the compass frantically spins in search of the misdirected magnetic pull.
“I need a map”
“It won’t help. This is a living city. Things change.”
– Jeannette Winterson, The Passion
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bleuira, 1993
Ten circular steel light boxes illuminating color duratrans, details of the ocean (10" in diameter). A marine compass attached to an electronic magnet, steel binnacle.