futurefarmers encourages collaboration and interaction
The Beachship is a ten-day public art installation created by team La Fortuna of international artist constellation Futurefarmers that rolls along the coastline in Blackpool, UK. The project facilitates a collaborative narrative among locals, visitors, and nature, blending imagination to resolve underlying conflicts. Following its initial voyage, this event will continue in the beach city as an ongoing ecological and social initiative, reinforcing community connections and offering a shared vision for the future.
all images by Gary Cook unless stated otherwise
beachship brings people together in the tourist city of blackpool
Beachship was commissioned by Blackpool’s Leftcoast Gallery, and realized by Albert Fuster, Masao Rong, Runyu Li, and Vivian Rustige of design studio Futurefarmers. Through co-building, installations, designed tools, costumes, and workshops, the team created a dynamic stage where participants adopt various roles to shape a narrative, turning the entire experience into a performance. It encourages future-oriented imagination through a deep connection with nature, renewing the bond between residents and the beach.
Blackpool is a tourist city in North England known as a coast resort for the British. From the 1960s, the rise of overseas holidays and lack of investment lead to a long-term economic decrease, causing a series of social issues. The tourist industry in Blackpool has created a wave that distances communities, hindering locals’ ability to enjoy and discuss natural spaces, and fostering narrative tension between different groups. Residents, tourists, refugees, and other groups need find ways to redefine their identities to foster cooperation. Addressing this, Beachship is a community-centric initiative that sparks collaboration, interaction, and joy along the coast.
Futurefarmers’ wooden Beachship rolls along Blackpool coastline
created by team La Fortuna of international artist constellation Futurefarmers
the project facilitates a collaborative narrative among locals, visitors, and nature | image by Donna Hannigan
a ten-day public art installation
the event runs in Blackpool, a tourist city in North England known as a coast resort for the British
the initiative sparks collaboration, interaction, and joy along the coast | image by Claire Griffiths
image by Claire Griffiths
image by Claire Griffiths
image by Donna Hannigan
image by Donna Hannigan
image by Donna Hannigan
project info:
name: Beachship
designer: La Fortuna
design team: Albert Fuster, Masao Rong, Runyu Li, Vivian Rustige
location: Blackpool, United Kingdom
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edited by: ravail khan | designboom