Robert Ladislas Derr
Abandon Ship, 2010
I animate a retired lifesaving boat dry-docked on a sidewalk in Turku, Finland. The potential of commonly overlooked objects are noticed as a guest in a new city. Not only are the intricacies of new surroundings visible, but also an absence from familiarity allows for a critical perspective. For me, this boat is a metaphor for my country’s prevailing governmental policies. The United States of America was founded as a Republic, giving everyman equal rights and no taxation without representation. Since the founding of the USA, the politicians have surreptitiously diminished these rights. With the elimination of many of our rights, the politicians have become exceedingly powerful. These politicians exempt themselves from the same laws that they force on the citizenry. The citizenry’s voice is no longer heard nor matters. The Republic is almost unrecognizable - when a ship is going down, the call that is cried is, "abandon ship."