My first brainstorm, I wanted to do mini life jackets  sawn with  the sewing machine and a whole  structure full of  those.  Then I wanted to do an aquarium/fish bowl with water and toy boat floating and beeing rocked by the water, chained by  rocks.

First  research with Cate Sarci. This is a paper boat. We started with a minimalistic approach. Through a simple paper boat we wanted to express their fragility and vulnerability. The fact they can be tossed around...
Inspired by souvenirs of both of our childhoods when we would make paper boats and have them float in rivers until  completely soaked and drowning. The origami idea  was mutual, and have a satirical effect which will hopefully make people uncomfortable. 

Images to be transferred on top and addition of whistles and rope. To remind the elements present on boats.





















I  started making the little people for the boat. Originally I wanted to do them to be smaller (5 cm, but i had to do them bigger  in ratio  to  the boat 15-20cm. I first made a metal structure, then  I  realised that DAS clay was much  too heavy and difficult to work with. So I came across the children air drying  clay in Cass art, and bought some cheaper version of it off amazon. It’s called magic clay, it dries in minutes and is incredibly easy to use.










I Then made more clay accessories for each of them, like the buoy, the colours were striking.

These are drawings on the ipad  to be transferred onto the migrant crisis teapot,  I got inspired by the images on the internet. A buoy,  a  call  for  help, a  helpless child , a boat  rocking and  a zodiac. The life  jackets  were  key, and I wanted to show the fact that these boats are overpopulated to the a very  dangerous point. It will be transferred on the top of the teapot.




Migrant crisis teapot,  sketch with Chris Suttie




The  mini yellow vests, I made with the sewing machine, which we didn’t use in the end.



First the base is covered  in tape.



This is the result  with magic clay.

The boat, made of felt, cardboard. It has the inside of a builders hat, and  is filled with foam. I later added an elastic.
The boat is too simplistic like this, so I decided to add cartoon windows.





We wanted to label the boat “The unwanteds”  we felt that this was the  right approach to raise questions.




Little people, atttached with wire,  about  to  fall,  and super glue.

 







Deciding  which  direction, to wear  the  hat.