Fletcher Vaughan
Marine-grade aluminium, PVC
Ship of Fools is a contemporary take on the Hieronymus
Bosch medieval allegory of the same name, painted in the late-15th
century. The painting is dense in religious and social symbolism
and depicts ignorant and foolish humans involved in frivolous and
sinful pursuits, cast adrift without a captain and at the mercy of
the sea.
This sculpture is a modern interpretation of that allegory. It
takes the form of an origami boat made from a folded map of the
world. At any moment, it could be swamped by a wave and sink or
disintegrate. The illusion of simple paper construction represents
the fragility of our planet and its inhabitants in the present
day.
On a simpler level, the boat form speaks of the popularity of
boating and watercraft in Auckland - the City of Sails, and
the many boats that are anchored around the shores of Waiheke
Island.
Fletcher Vaughan is a multi-disciplinary designer based in
Auckland. He founded his studio Fletcher Systems in 1999 known
mainly for its creative, original furniture, product design, and
interiors. His designs have been exhibited at expos in Japan and
Italy and have received international and local accolades.
Vaughan was born in 1967 and spent the first six years of his
life on the Chatham Islands. He is of Fijian, Tahitian, and New
Zealand descent, his Tahitian heritage coming by way of Pitcairn
Island from his ancestor and namesake Fletcher Christian, the
notorious Bounty mutineer.