Alex Malcolmson
Scottish Zulu: St Kilda
Mixed media box construction
22 x 18 x 6 "
The ‘Zulu’ is the boat, a once common type of fishing boat that was used around the Scottish coast and down the east coast of England too in the herring...
The ‘Zulu’ is the boat, a once common type of fishing boat that was used around the Scottish coast and down the east coast of England too in the herring season, before motor power took over. It was first developed and built during the late 19th century herring ‘boom’ when the Zulu war was going on in South Africa. I am fond of the abstract nature of sailing boats and the elegant sail plan here makes a powerful image. Again, the sculptural form trumps nautical accuracy. The object immediately below is based on a marker buoy that would be used by such a boat to locate the drift fishing nets.
The background is a collage of marine charts with some hand colouring and Bartholemew’s half inch maps which have the most glorious blue green sea which I can’t resist using.
The background is a collage of marine charts with some hand colouring and Bartholemew’s half inch maps which have the most glorious blue green sea which I can’t resist using.