Simon Patterson to Create Sea Battle at His De La Warr Pavilion Show

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.

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.

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: 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.