A new exhibition space, The Defenceless Container, opened to the public at the beginning of August, created by India Dickinson on the coast of the Isle of Wight. Artists are commissioned annually to create site-specific installations separate from the conventional gallery space.
This disused WWII bunker, located in Bembridge, has been reinstated as an installation space that will use art to communicate environmental issues to a wider public.
Solent Oyster Restoration Project
This year the exhibition is supporting the Blue Marine Foundation in their Solent Oyster Restoration Project which plans to reseed 10 million oysters into the Solent by 2020.
This project will benefit both the marine environment and the Solent communities.
Curator, India Dickinson said
“This project started with an ambition to allow art to communicate social issues in an accessible way. Separate from facts and figures that can become hard to digest, Saltscape shows you what our future could be like if we don’t change our behaviour.
“This installation reminds people about the impending devastation of our oceans and whilst being aligned with BLUE it gives people the opportunity to make a difference.”
History of largest oyster fishery
The Solent used to be the largest oyster fishery in Europe, however in 2013 the oyster fishery was closed after fishermen and regulators recorded significantly reduced catches indicating that the oyster stock had collapsed.
The long-term goal of the project is to restore the status of the native oyster population in the Solent which will also improve its overall health and biodiversity.
A single native oyster can filter up to 200 litres of water a day, so by introducing 10 million native oysters, in a year, we can clean potentially clean as much as 730 billion litres of the Solent.
As part of the exhibition, 20 per cent of profits from Claudia Legge’s photographs will be donated to the charity.
Where and when
You can find the bunker on Beach Road, Bembridge, (50°41’42.6″N1°05’23.1”W).
Opening hours are 12-5pm from 1st August to 30th August.
After that, viewing is by appointment only by emailing [email protected].
More information can be found on the Events OnTheWight.
Update 6.Sept.16: Updated with new opening times.
