French artist Xavier Veilhan has embarked on an ambitious transatlantic voyage that combines sustainable transportation with artistic creation. This month, Veilhan launched from France aboard the We Explore, a 55-foot catamaran equipped with his innovative Transatlantic Studio—a floating workshop where he and his team will create art pieces during their month-long journey to Brazil.
The entirely wind-powered vessel represents Veilhan's commentary on the art world's carbon footprint, particularly the reliance on jet fuel-burning airplanes for international art transportation. "I want to further develop this initiative of a floating studio and wind-powered transportation for some of my upcoming exhibitions," Veilhan explained. "The goal is to create new imaginaries and offer an alternative to the pressures and frenetic pace of the art world: international fairs and exhibitions consume enormous amounts of energy and prioritize speed."
The floating studio features human-powered equipment central to the artistic process. Veilhan's son Antoine, a skilled carpenter who is among the half-dozen people making the journey, converted a bandsaw and a lathe to pedal-powered operation. These modified tools serve as the core equipment for the onboard workshop, allowing the team to create art pieces entirely through human energy during their ocean crossing.
Assuming the We Explore maintains its schedule and arrives in Brazil as planned, the artwork created during the voyage will be showcased in an exhibition titled "Do Vento." The show is set to open on November 8th at São Paulo's prestigious Nara Roesler Gallery, where visitors will be able to view the unique pieces born from this experimental journey.
Veilhan views the entire project as more than just a means of transportation or art creation. "This project is an experiment, an attempt," he stated, "which has value as a work of art in itself." The initiative challenges conventional practices in the international art world while demonstrating alternative approaches to artistic production and exhibition logistics that prioritize environmental sustainability over speed and convenience.
