COLLETTE RAYNER: 'ACCESS AS IDIOT DISTRACTION'

REVIEWED BY RHYS FULLERTON 

Collette Rayner’s new work at Collective is based on research into the Principality of Sealand, a 'sovereign micronation' located six nautical miles off the Port of Felixstowe on the east coast of England.

Rayner has created three animations, a sound work and a text, all inspired by her experience of journeying by boat to Sealand but not gaining physical access to the site. 

The 3D digital animation was made in collaboration with animator Alan Nicol and in conversation with Hackspace in London: a non-profit, hacking community that runs workshops on model making, drone building and robotics. 

In the first animation we open over a digital ocean and head towards the structure, Sealand, in the middle of the sea. The second animation takes us into an actual gallery where we see Sealand sat on a plinth with a mechanical ocean flowing around it and almost bubbling over. In the third animation we are back in the ocean, following a drone as it explores Sealand from every angle. 

There is excellent attention to detail, from the shadows around the structure to the very real-looking waves. The camera is always moving, like the ocean never resting, and the bird’s-eye view of the drone is a beautiful touch. The sound design puts you right there in the middle of the ocean but it doesn’t always fit with the images; this is not a criticism as it only enhances the abstract images.

Drones are often seen as controversial but with this technology almost anywhere can be explored and seen without actually going there yourself.  If someone wanted to explore Sealand without actually setting foot on it, a drone would be one way of doing so. As Rayner was unable to explore Sealand for herself, she uses an animated drone to explore the site in her place and she fills in the gaps. 

This artwork is impressive for its detail rather than the less convincing context. Access as Idiot Distraction is ambitious, original and every aspect of the design has been thought through. But I couldn’t help wondering what it would have been like if Rayner had used another technique that she is familiar with, for instance drawing or sculpture, to realise her idea. And how different would this work have been if Rayner had actually managed to land on Sealand?

Satellites Programme 2015 will consist of solo-shows by Thomas Aitchison, France-Lise McGurn, Scott Rogers and Hardeep Pandhal and a project by Georgia Horgan (Associate Producer). Access as Idiot Distraction continues at Collective until 25 January 2015.

[Images: Collette Rayner, Access as Idiot Distraction stills from digital animations, 2014. Courtesy of the artist and Collective, Edinburgh.]