History of Smuggling

Showing off the Arapaima I made! (Pattern also made by me)

Ominous bird valentines.

Frigate L'Hermione

STORSJOODJURET

In Swedish legend, Storsjoodjuret is a lake monster that inhabits Lake Storsjoin in Jamtland. It takes the form of a horned serpent or a serpent with long ears. The legend of its presence is long-lived, for a runestone was placed on the lake's only island in an attempt to keep its powers at bay. There was an early attempt to catch or lure the Storsjoodjuret in 1894 when a metal cage was baited with dead pigs. The museum of Osersund still shows this contraption, together with the harpoons that were made to spear the Storsjoodjuret. In a marvellous example of hope over invisibility, the Storsjoodjuret was officially given legal protected species status since 1986.

Christmas on board has a long tradition in Christian seafaring. The first reports of celebrations on the high seas date back to the 15th century. Later, on cargo ships, the celebration was ritualised. The captain invited the crew to a meal together and each crew member received a small gift. Or sweets and punch, the sailors' Christmas drink. A tradition that still exists today.

Tree abord the Santa Barbara

Even the Christmas tree has its place on board. Incidentally, the Christmas tree is a German export hit. It is said to have been German sailors who brought the decorated conifer from the Ore Mountains, where the custom originated in 1660, out into the world. In the Imperial Navy, it was traditional for a German ship, no matter where it was, to place a Christmas tree at the top of its mast at Christmas.

A self-made Christmas tree on the Gorch Fock

Die Mimik der Tethys (The Expressions of Tethys) is a high sea buoy (last was in Pinacoteca Agnelli, Turin, 2024), that is suspended in space and moves synchronously to another buoy in the Atlantic Ocean near Nantes. Continuously transmitting motion data via satellite to its relocated double, the information guides eight electric motors and cable winches, which precisely reproduce the buoy's movement in the ocean. The buoy functions as a hypnotising machine that inevitably leads to the idea of waves lapping around inside the exhibition space, creating an ocean in the minds of people.

Video source

Art by Julius von Bismarck