The installation Drift is mounted at the Arctic Arts Festival after it triumphed last summer in Scotland. Drift denotes the sea, sand, soundscapes, and sculpture and is inspired by the story of Betty Mouat from Shetland. Betty, a local farmer spent eight days adrift on the north sea.
Drift´s mastermind Symon Macintyre used both sound and other effects to recreate that feeling of intense isolation which felt out at sea. The installation consists of nine different elements which the audience wander through.
In 1886 61 year old Betty was the only passenger on the vessel ”Columbine” which was bound for Grutness en route from Lerwick. She was carrying knitting which she hoped to sell upon arrival. But straight after they set sail the captain and crew fell overboard and the ”Columbine” began to list. Betty was thought to have perished at sea. Eight days later the ”Columbine” hit the beach at Lepsøy near Ålesund, and to everyone´s astonishment Betty had survived. She returned to Shetland where she was hailed as a heroine by the local community and lived on as a farmer for a further 30 years.
Symon Macintyre runs the theatre company Vision Mechanics, which he founded in 1984 together with Kim Bergsagel. Vision Mechanics creates visual art with a starting point in the local community.
Drift is produced and assembled by Symon Macintyre.
The installation is mounted in collaboration with the Figurteatret in Nordland.
«Drift» was nominated for the scottish «Hedda-prize».