Dead Reckoning

A temporary exhibition mounted in conjunction with the 250th anniversary of the birth of Captain William Bligh, who is buried in the grounds of the Museum of Garden History and was a local resident of North Lambeth, London. Dead Reckoning linked visual art practice, historical research and museological display with critical, investigative writing and curatorial practice.

Continuing Parabola and the Museum of Garden History’s dedication to producing multi disciplinary displays, publications and contemporary art commissions, the exhibition aimed to explore both the fact and fantasy surrounding Bligh’s life. Cotterrell constructed a ‘simulation’ of Bligh’s historic 5,800km open boat journey taken in the HMS Bounty’s lifeboat. Directly informed by the anecdotal and navigational notes taken from Bligh’s log, Cotterrell’s panoramic first-person view, not unlike a flight simulator, charts the shifting horizon witnessed by Bligh and his companions on their travels. This work formed the visual focal point of the exhibition. Displayed on a recently developed prismatic screen material that enables the viewer to see projections in full daylight, the installation allowed visitors to experience an immersive space merging with the several separate elements of the entirety of the exhibition.