Allan Sekula

Mermaid Honeymoon – A curatorial reflection on Allan Sekula’s 'Ship of Fools / The Dockers’ Museum' (2010–2013)

Allan Sekula (Erie, 1951 – Los Angeles, 2013) was an American artist, photographer, writer, filmmaker and activist. His work explores themes such as working conditions and class struggle, combined with a fierce criticism of globalized capitalism.

Mermaid Honeymoon shows a selection from Sekula's Ship of Fools / The Dockers' Museum, an unfinished project on which he worked from 2010 until his untimely death. The project consists of two parts: Ship of Fools is a cluster of photographic images and slides made by Sekula himself, mainly during his travels on board the activist ship the Global Mariner (1998–2000). In addition, The Dockers' Museum contains a collection of approximately 1250 artefacts which the artist bought mainly on-line: objects, photographs, graphic works, postcards and prints. The Dockers' Museum inscribes itself in the tradition of artists' museums, whose central focus revolves around collecting. At the same time, it calls into question the present-day collecting and archival frenzy, which makes that the project can be seen as an anti-museum and even anti-archive. After all, Sekula refused to establish a hierarchy within the various sections of his anti-museum. The "objects of interest" in The Dockers' Museum, as Sekula called them, serve as metonymic reminders of social struggles in and around the docks. They illustrate Sekula's appreciation for the dockworker, who, as an intermediary figure between land and sea, became for him the archetype of all the workers in the world. In this last project, Sekula's interest in the figure of the mermaid—and by extension in mechanical devices that produce signals, such as sirens and horns—intensified. Like the dockworker, the mermaid acts as a connective link between land and sea, and both figures may be understood as carriers of hope and transformation/change. This suggests an even greater symbiosis that bears within it the seed of a new direction or orientation, both for the individual and for society as a whole.

Curator: Anja Isabel Schneider

This exhibition is one of the concluding outcomes of a PhD in Curatorial Research, as part of the research project Art Against the Grain of “Collective Sisyphus”: The Case of Allan Sekula's Ship of Fools / The Dockers' Museum (2010–2013), jointly developed by M HKA and the Lieven Gevaert Centre at KU Leuven and UCLouvain, with professor Hilde Van Gelder as promotor. With the support of the Research Fund KU Leuven, the Research Foundation-Flanders (FWO) and the Allan Sekula Studio.

Ship of Fools, 2010

Selection of framed chromogenic prints mounted on alu-dibond and one framed archival pigment print [Dockers' Monument (Santos) (2010)]. Collection M HKA / Collection Flemish Community

1. Churn (2009/2010)

121,9 x 132,1 cm.

2. Engine Room Eyes 1 (1999/2010)

101,6 x 127 cm.

Engine Room Eyes 2 (1999/2010)

101,6 x 127 cm.

Engine Room Eyes 3 (1999/2010)

101,6 x 127 cm.

3. Waiting for Work (Santos) (2010)

101,6 x 149,9 cm.

4. Working (Santos) (2010)

101,6 x 149,9 cm.

5. Not Working (Santos) (2010) 

101,6 x 149,9 cm.    

6. Crew, Pilot, and Russian Girlfriend (Novorossiysk) 1: Ab (1999–2000/2010)

101.6 x 149.9 cm.

7. Crew, Pilot, and Russian Girlfriend (Novorossiysk) 2: Bosun (1999–2000/2010)

101.6 x 149.9 cm.

8. Crew, Pilot, and Russian Girlfriend (Novorossiysk) 3: Cook (1999–2000/2010)

101.6 x 149.9 cm.

9. Crew, Pilot, and Russian Girlfriend (Novorossiysk) 4: Deck Cadet (1999–2000/2010)

101.6 x 149.9 cm.

10. Crew, Pilot, and Russian Girlfriend (Novorossiysk) 5: Engine Cadet (1999–2000/2010)

101.6 x 149.9 cm.

11. Crew, Pilot, and Russian Girlfriend (Novorossiysk) 6: Engineer (1999–2000/2010)

101.6 x 149.9 cm.

12. Crew, Pilot, and Russian Girlfriend (Novorossiysk) 7: Media Tech (1999–2000/2010)

101.6 x 149.9 cm.

13. Crew, Pilot, and Russian Girlfriend (Novorossiysk) 8: Officer and Girlfriend (1999–2000/2010) 101.6 x 149.9 cm.

14. Crew, Pilot, and Russian Girlfriend (Novorossiysk) 9: Sober Pilot (1999–2000/2010)

101.6 x 149.9 cm.

15. Crew, Pilot, and Russian Girlfriend (Novorossiysk) 10: Three Women (1999–2000/2010)

101.6 x 149.9 cm.

16. Dockers' Monument (Santos) (2010)

76,2 x 76,2 cm.

The Dockers’ Museum, 2010–2013                                                                                   

Selection of “Objects of Interest,” elements from Allan Sekula, The Dockers’ Museum   Collection M HKA / Collection Flemish Community.

1. Mermaid Honeymoon (The Frenzy of Ferenczi) [title given by Allan Sekula],

cartoon, graphic digitally rendered as vinyl cut-outs, designer and production date unknown (early 1960s), variable dimensions. [TDM 45]

2. Constantin Meunier, Débardeur du port d'Anvers, bronze, 1890, 48,5 x 22 x 17 cm. Purchased in December 2011 by M HKA for The Dockers' Museum, at the request of Allan Sekula. [TDM 40]

3. Nautical Foghorn (Manufactured Japan, Salvaged Alang, India) with Wooden Storage Box [title given by Allan Sekula], produced by Tokyo Siren Co., LTD, aluminum, 1981, 69 x 28 x 23 cm. Purchased by Allan Sekula through eBay, inside of its containing box, on September 6, 2010. [TDM 39]

4. Koch Industries Poly ¼” (8) Hollow Braided Poly Rope [as indicated on PayPal document], poly rope, produced by Koch Industries, date of production unknown, 28,5 x 1,5 x 0,1 cm. Purchased by Allan Sekula through eBay on September 30, 2011.

5. International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) May 1997 European action against flags of convenience [as indicated on pin] pin, metal, plastic, manufacturer and exact date of production unknown, possibly May 1997, 4,5 x 4,5 x 0,5 cm. Date of acquisition by Allan Sekula unknown.

6. Four Off-White High Protein Sails for the Horizon Line (Codfish) [title given by Allan Sekula], four pieces of dried cod fish mounted on a wooden base, ventilated by a fan, ca. 60 x 40 x 70 cm. First reproduced in Barcelona on the occasion of Allan Sekula. Collective Sisyphus (2017), following the indications of Jürgen Bock (Mamaus/Lumiar Cité). [TDM 49]

7. Drew Dernavich (drawing) and Allan Sekula (caption), Psychiatrist with Flat Docker [title given by Allan Sekula], cartoon published with a different caption in The New Yorker on 9 January 2012, graphic digitally rendered as vinyl cut-outs, variable dimensions. [TDM 47] © Drew Dernavich

8. Coasterrug Coaster Rug Freud. Couch Persian Rugs Sigmund [as indicated in PayPal document], nylon with a non-slip natural rubber base and custom-made fringed edges, 8,7 x 13 cm, designed by The Freud Museum London, made in the USA by Fiberlok. Purchased by Allan Sekula through eBay on August 11, 2011. © The Freud Museum.

9. Noah's Ark 14" Wooden Model Ship [as indicated on PayPal document], carved wood, model ship, date of production unknown, 11,8 x 33,5 x 7,5 cm. Purchased by Allan Sekula through eBay on January 25, 2012.

10. Chiropractor's Life Size Model of a Human Vertebrae [title given by Allan Sekula], plastic, producer and production date unknown (most probably shortly before or in 2012), 82,5 x 32,5 x 25 cm. Purchased by Allan Sekula through eBay on March 6, 2012. [TDM 41]

11. From a Fish Market in Japan [title given by Allan Sekula], melted plastic, given to Allan Sekula ca. 2000, 29 x 8 cm (circumference 24 cm). Posthumous donation to M HKA by Sally Stein in 2016.

12. Ebi (Shrimp) Plastic Sushi Model - made in Japan [as indicated on PayPal file], plastic, 2.3 x 9.3 x 3.3 cm and 2,2 x 9,2 x 3,6 cm, manufacturer and date of manufacture unknown. Purchased by Allan Sekula through eBay on July, 13, 2010.

13. Rotary Display Stand Turn Table Glass Mirror Top Medium 1 [as indicated on PayPal document], mirror, glass, manufactured by HFC, 20,4 x 20,2 x 6,3 cm, two speeds, battery. Purchased by Allan Sekula through eBay on January 1, 2011. 

14. Belgium City Antwerpen Old Vintage Flag [as indicated on PayPal document], printed colored cotton (recto/verso printed), cotton string, date of production unknown, 18,9 x 28,6 x 0,1 cm. Purchased by Allan Sekula through eBay on May 21, 2010.

15. Old Brazil Brazilian Flag Lembranca de Santos [as indicated on PayPal document], printed colored synthetic textile (recto/verso printed), metal, plastic thread, date of production unknown, 21,2 x 48,2 x 0,1 cm. Purchased by Allan Sekula through eBay on May 21, 2010.

16. Electric Fan, metal, plastic, electric wire, manufacturer and date of production unknown, 22,5 x 19 x 9 cm. Date of acquisition by Allan Sekula unknown.

17. N.i. [Mermaid], handmade filled fabric and colored wooden beads, date of production unknown, 25,1 x 11,9 x 3,9 cm. Date of acquisition by Allan Sekula unknown.

 (Display vitrine from left to right):

18. W.B. Gardner, Albrecht Dürer Sketching the Panorama of Antwerp in 1520, engraving, black-and-white print on paper, after an 1873 oil painting by John Neuhuys, published in an extra supplement to The Illustrated London News on May 2, 1874, 40,1 x 52,1 cm. Purchased by Allan Sekula through eBay on April 21, 2010. [TDM 1]

19. Mermaid Nude, Ex Libris by Gerard Gaudaen, Belgium [as indicated on PayPal document], ex libris, print, undated, 13,6 x 11 cm. Purchased by Allan Sekula through eBay on July 13, 2010.

20. Santos Brazil Women Girls Females 40’s [as indicated on PayPal document], Santos Beach [as indicated on the backside of photograph], 1941, black-and-white photograph, 8.8 x 11.5 cm. Purchased by Allan Sekula through eBay on May 6, 2010.

21. P6338 Belgium postcard Anvers Les Dockers Antwerp Docks [as indicated on PayPal document], black-and-white photograph, undated, 8,7 x 13,9 cm. Purchased by Allan Sekula through eBay on March 29, 2010.

22. Carriers of Coffee, Santos, Brazil. Longshoremen with 302 kg [as indicated on PayPal document], black-and-white print, postcard, 1909, 8,9 x 13,7 cm. Purchased by Allan Sekula through eBay on July 28, 2011.

23. Mermaid, Nude, Ex Libris by Gerard Gaudaen, Belgium [as indicated on PayPal document], ex libris, print, [Ex Libris J. Th. A. Peskens as indicated on print], signed by Gerard Gaudaen, undated, 12,2 x 9,6 cm. Purchased by Allan Sekula through eBay on July 13, 2010.

24. Anon., From the Sculpture by Constantin Meunier, black-and-white print on paper, c. 1906, 25 x 17,5 cm. Purchased by Allan Sekula through eBay on May 6, 2010. [TDM 11]

25. Head Hugger [as indicated on backside of photograph], black-and-white photograph, December 6, 1972, 23, 9 x 18,1 cm. Date of acquisition by Allan Sekula unknown.

26. Mermaid, Nude Ex Libris by Gerard Gaudaen, Belgium [as indicated on PayPal document], ex libris, print, [Ex Libris Vasclav Grégr as indicated on print], undated, 10,3 x 7,4 cm. Purchased by Allan Sekula through eBay on July 13, 2010.

27. Arie Meiseles, Manufacture of Shofar-2, Raw Shofar [as indicated on backside of photograph], black-and-white photograph, 1960s, 16,8 x 22,2 cm. Date of acquisition by Allan Sekula unknown.

28. Christiana e le Tartarughe Di Panno Roma [as indicated on backside of photograph],

black-and-white photograph, March 22, 1977, 24 x 17,6 cm. Date of acquisition by Allan Sekula unknown.

29. Anon., Sea Lion in the Antwerp Zoo [title given by Allan Sekula],

black-and-white postcard, ed. NELS Bromurite [now Thill], ca. 1930–1950, 9 x 14 cm. Purchased by Allan Sekula through eBay on May 6, 2010. © Thill/Nels as represented by Sopham. [TDM 13]

30. Vintage Photo L9176 Man diving off cliffs into Water [as indicated on PayPal document], black-and-white photograph, La Quebrada, Mexico, postcard, n.d., 13,9 x 8,9 cm. Purchased by Allan Sekula through eBay on January 2, 2012.

31. Mermaid, Nude, Ex Libris by Gerard Gaudaen, Belgium [as indicated on PayPal document], ex libris, print, [Ex Libris W.J.C. Van Eyck as indicated on print], signed and dated by Gerard Gaudaen, 1975, 13,2 x 10,8 cm. Purchased by Allan Sekula through eBay on July 13, 2010.