The Art Newspaper

Artists and curators launch art flotilla off Israeli coast

The three-boat armada, which also makes a quick stop in Greek Cyprus, will transform into a stage for film screenings and performances by 50 international artists

By Marisa Mazria Katz. From Art Basel daily edition
Published online: 17 June 2010

Peace and love boat?

Despite Israel’s fatal attack of the Gaza-bound Mavi Marra ship, three flotillas crewed by artists plan to set off for neutral waters off the coasts of Tel Aviv and Haifa today, and remain until 21 June.

The maritime arts initiative, called Ex-territory, was launched in mid-2009 by the Tel Aviv-based artist/curators Ruti Sela and Maayan Amir. The three-boat armada, which also makes a quick stop in Greek Cyprus, will transform into a stage for film screenings and performances by 50 international artists.

“We wanted to create an exhibition that doesn’t promote territory or ideology,” Amir said. “We are making a space where everyone who is involved will at least be temporarily free from the ideologies and arbitrary circumstances that their home countries represent.”

Other than the location of the boat’s departure and the nationalities of several participants, co-founder Amir asserts a lack of affiliation with her native Israel. “With Ex-territory we can participate in ways that we can’t when we are inside Israel,” said Amir. “The project aims to create a floating platform for inter-cultural exchange outside the sovereign territory of any specific country.”

Both Amir and Sela have refused any financial support from Israel for Ex-territory. The pair has instead turned to initiatives like the European Union Migrant Artist Network and the Fondation Maison des Sciences de l’Homme for funding.

A three-hour sea trial took place during the 2009 Tel Aviv International Art Biennial (Art TLV). Since then, Amir and Sela have attracted participants for their Mediterranean Sea excursion from countries such as Taiwan, Chile and the US, as well as a handful from Middle Eastern nations they consider too dangerous to disclose prior to their departure.

Although tension off the coast of Israel continues to rise—the Iranian government recently decided to dispatch their own boats, and within Israel a movement to send a flotilla to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is gaining momentum—both Amir and Sela claim Ex-territory will be carried out as planned. Indeed, if the chance arises, Amir claimed she was open to using the sails of the Iranian flotilla “as another place to project art”.