Simon Patterson To Create Sea Battle At His De La Warr Pavilion Show

To inaugurate the launch of his solo exhibition Safari: An Exhibition As Expedition at the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill, British artist Simon Patterson has devised a reimagining of his Landskip colour bomb performance works in the form of a sea battle that will take place on the afternoon of Saturday May 20, 2017.

Simon Patterson’s unusual spectacle is the perfect excuse to head to the south coast of England this weekend. In preparation for Saturday’s sea battle, titled Seascape, the artist has been rehearsing the temporary performance of which we can give you a sneak peek below.

Simon Patterson, rehearsal of Seascape, 2017, with Bexhill Sailing Club

Working with the Bexhill Sailing Club, Patterson has specially-created Seascape for his major show at De La Warr Pavilion, with photographs from the daytime performance forming part of the retrospective that spans 25 years. The work references how artists in the 17th and 18th centuries were commissioned to design spectacles such as firework displays and mock battles. While the different coloured smoke grenades refer to the different engagement signals used in war zones.

Simon Patterson, Landskip, 2000. Compton Verney, Warwickshire, 2000

The Turner Prize-nominee first worked with coloured smoke-emitting devices in 2000, when he was commissioned to make new work for Art in the Park at Compton Verney. Landskip directly responded to the occupation of the 18th-century country mansion during World War II, by soldiers embarking on camouflage testing. Patterson has subsequently performed his smoke displays in conjunction with other solo exhibitions.

Simon Patterson, Landskip, 2000. Carlton Hill, Edinburgh, 2005

Simon Patterson: Safari at De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill-on-Sea, TN40 1DP is on from May 20 to September 3, 2017. Seascape, a public spectacle will take place on Saturday 20 May at approximately 5pm.

About the author

Freire Barnes

Art & Design Editor

Born in the heart of London, Freire's been surrounded by art since childhood. From being mesmerised by Fra Angelico's frescos in Florence to experiencing Dali's Mae West room in Caduceus, Freire's extensive travels instilled a love of the arts. After studying painting she worked for David Bowie's, Bowieart and began to write for the BBC, Bon and Dazed &amp Confused. She curated the Converse x Dazed Emerging Artists Award and was one of the first cohort to graduate from the Royal College of Art's Critical Writing in Art &amp Design MA. When not at an art opening, she's excited to bring her global art discoveries to the Culture Trip's readers.