Image: Simon Starling, Island for Weeds, 2003

Image: Gareth Kennedy, Weathercube, 2007

Image: Alex Murdin

Image: Delta Sync Architects, Floating Pavilion for Shanghai world expo 2010

Arcadia Revisited: Art and architecture of wetland, coast and sea
Alex Murdin

The ever changing coastline has been the subject and site of many art and architectural projects throughout the world for many years. To start his research in Jaywick, Alex Murdin has brought together images from projects around the globe in this film. All of these projects by international artists and architects propose new possibilities for experiencing wetlands, coastlines and the sea, and also offer new ideas as to how we might be able to live near, or even on the sea.
Not all of the projects presented in this film have been realised, many remain as utopian visions for the future, whereas some have been completed and have proved successful, manageable models for future living. Other projects go back as far as the 70s, demonstrating that new thinking about our coast is something that been developing for many generations.
To link this research to Jaywick, and begin to vision new possibilities for this unique coastline, Alex has also been speaking to people from the local area. In particular former pleasureboat owner and fisherman, Dick Harman, who talked to Alex about wildlife and food produce on the coast and his assistance in the rescue efforts of the 1953 flood:

Alex: So when it flooded in ‘53 did it come in really quickly then ?
Dick: Oh yes, started coming over. You see it comes over them and it cuts a channel, because there’s water and then it all gives way, and then it gradually got bigger and then you got a real flush of water...

Further excerpts of Alex and Dick’s conversation is shown in between the images from Alex’s research in this film.

* Please note that all copyright for the images and proposals shown in this work remain with the artists and architects credited.