For Those in Peril on the Sea

Commissioned by The Creative Foundation for the 2nd Folkestone Triennial.

“The human heart is like a ship on a stormy sea driven about by winds blowing from all four corners of heaven” – Martin Luther

So many things, good and bad, travel by sea.  The piece takes it’s title from the final line of the hymn Eternal Father, Strong to Save (often called The Royal Navy Hymn).  Incorporating customised models of boats from around the world together with boats made from scratch, each vessel is in effect a memorial.  No crew are visible – the boats themselves are a symbol of the crew and passengers.  “Navis”, the Latin word for boat, is the root-word for the Nave of a church as well as for Navy.

Click here for Adrian Searle’s review and video of For Those in Peril on the Sea (at 1.07)

Watch Locke talk about this work in Miami