Artist-in-Residency Program Aboard the Sailing Vessel Light Observatory #7
Led by interdisciplinary artist and skipper Natali Blugerman.
This residency offers artists the opportunity to immerse themselves in the maritime environment and experiment within it.
Each week-long program serves as a catalyst for learning through hands-on exploration and shared discoveries. Every residency will host up to four participants, with special guests occasionally joining to provide in-depth knowledge on that week’s theme. The sailing locations will also be thoughtfully selected to align with each theme.
At the end of the season, we will host a presentation in The Hague, where AiR participants can share their creative outcomes.
The Skipper
Natali Blugerman is an Argentinian-Dutch multidisciplinary artist and skipper based in The Hague, Netherlands.
Her practice revolves around research and experimentation with the senses, particularly vision. She is fascinated by the interplay of light and the process through which the brain constructs images.
Natali Blugerman is an Argentinian-Dutch multidisciplinary artist and skipper based in The Hague, Netherlands.
Her practice revolves around research and experimentation with the senses, particularly vision. She is fascinated by the interplay of light and the process through which the brain constructs images.
A significant part of her work is encapsulated in her Light Observatory series, of which her sailboat is also an integral part. A few years ago, she immersed herself in the nautical world to pursue a lifelong dream—to cross the ocean by sailboat. In 2024, she accomplished this journey, gaining valuable insights that she now integrates into her program. Through this initiative, she aims to share the maritime environment experience with other artists and researchers, fostering exploration and creative exchange at sea.
Light Observatory #7 is a Beneteau Oceanis 321 sailing yacht, built in 1996. This well-balanced cruiser is known for its smooth handling, solid sailing performance, and onboard comfort. It features three double berths (bedrooms) and two saloon sofas that can also serve as beds. The yacht is equipped with a galley (kitchen) and a head (bathroom). While the sitting areas are spacious, navigating the narrow corridors requires a bit of a ‘boat dance.’
Participants should bring their own sleeping bags and be open to sharing a berth if needed. Life aboard is a communal experience, with everyone collaborating on daily tasks such as sailing and cooking. Fresh water and electricity are limited, so mindful usage is essential. The water tank will be refilled whenever we dock at a marina—an opportunity for a proper shower. On other days, participants can embrace the adventure of a “wild” open-air shower at the back of the boat, using the surrounding sea.
During 2025, we will delve into two new themes:
Week one:
The New Ecological, which explores the contrast between over-designed natural landscapes in the Haringvliet, Hollands Diep, and Grevelingenmeer, and the heavily industrialized areas surrounding them.
Tiengemeten and De Biesbosch are paradoxical examples of engineered nature in the Netherlands, where human intervention has reshaped landscapes, creating nature reserves amidst industrial and agricultural zones. While these areas are designed to restore biodiversity and act as green buffers against pollution, the very efforts to "restore" nature have led to unintended consequences. Species like beavers, introduced to improve ecosystems, have caused flooding of agricultural land and damage to infrastructure, forcing the Dutch government to spend millions on repairs. These reserves are meant to protect nature, yet they are continuously shaped by human management, struggling with pollution, agricultural runoff, and invasive species. In this way, even protected nature is paradoxically dependent on human intervention, showing how the pursuit of ecological restoration often collides with the reality of human needs and consequences.
We will sail through these regions, gaining insights from guest experts to uncover the complexities of these unique locations.
August 3rd - 9th
Week two:
The Flooded Cities of the Oosterschelde and the Veersemeer, reflecting on the region’s history of rising waters and submerged past.
Over the centuries, about 200 cities and villages in Zeeland have suffered from devastating floods, due to its vulnerability as a low-lying region exposed to storm surges, rising sea levels, and breaches in dikes. These flooding events span back to the 13th, 16th, and 17th centuries, long before the infamous 1953 North Sea Flood. Zeeland’s history of frequent flooding has shaped its resilience, leading to the development of advanced flood protection systems like the Delta Works. This long history underscores the region's ongoing battle with water and the critical importance of flood management for its survival.
One of our guest experts for this week will be artist and spatial designer, Aušra Česnauskytė, who will invite us for an interactive expedition - time travel - in a transitional space between the land and water. While constantly wetting and drying our feet, we will explore water as a non-linear timeline archive and practice new world-building through future speculation and watery fiction.
August 14th - 20th
More details about the residencies will be released in the coming months. In the meantime, you are already invited to apply.
Artists interested in participating are invited to apply by email with a motivation letter outlining their artistic drive and the project they wish to develop while aboard. Selection will be based on how well each applicant’s artistic profile aligns with the week’s theme and their approach to developing their project at sea. Additionally, we aim to curate a diverse, engaging, and harmonious group of participants.
When preparing your research and development plan, please consider the limited space aboard. Suitable approaches may include collecting samples, making sketches, or conducting experiments while ashore. The program contribution is €980 + 21% vat and covers participation in the program, three plant-based meals per day, and simple shared accommodation on board.
If have any questions or need a recommendation letter to apply for a subsidy please get in contact with us.