Perth Voice Interactive

FREMANTLE’S Naval Store is set to be transformed into a contemporary arts space dedicated to “pushing boundaries” and “creating meaningful public exchange”. 

Vessel is described by its founders as a “critical missing piece” in Perth and wider Western Australian contemporary arts ecosystem as an independent, non-profit art space in the old building overlooking the port. 

Vessel co-director Will Ek-Uvelius says the Naval Store’s history will allow the organisation to be “something different” and “not just a white cube gallery space” as contemporary art facilitation often is. 

Heritage

“Vessel is a new industrial space which we can say precedents both nationally and globally, to act as a contemporary art space,” Mr Ek-Uvelius said. 

“It’s something we really see as an edge to the organisation, to still reference the heritage of the site and its narratives, and where we are in Fremantle… this site has such a strong Indigenous significance as the signal hill being one of the last of the seven hills in the Dreamtime stories left. 

“It also speaks to the colonial narrative, being a building that was built for the port… the next step is the future, and what the new residents and custodians of this place are talking to.” 

Vessel’s independence and non-profit nature are important, according to Mr Ek-Uvelius, especially given its role as a space-holder for contemporary art. 

“It’s a kind of role that independent arts organisations can play, to critique and challenge both government and others,” he said. 

“It doesn’t stand under certain bureaucracy.” 

According to Vessel representatives, work will begin to “transform” the Naval Store’s foyer to be able to accommodate exhibitions and artists-in-residence spaces in April, and its first major exhibition will open in June.

“It’s the first step in making the building Vessel’s home,” Mr Ek-Uvelius said. 

“It will still be able to be used by people who want to rent it for private hire, but [the transformation] is also the first shift in making the building a bit more public and civic.” 

The unique funding for Vessel came directly from one of its co-founders, Adam Jorlen, who will donate $100,000 in cryptocurrency annually for five years. 

“Part of the discussion around Vessel has always been that we want to be able to grow into the future, and when [the donation] came up as an opportunity, we went for it straight away,” Mr Ek-Uvelius said. 

“Being an independent arts organisation in its infancy, start-up phase, we need to prove ourselves to the world before we start receiving any other philanthropic donations or even government funding. 

“It’s also an interesting story in terms of I think a lot of people, including myself, [don’t understand] how cryptocurrency works, or if it’s all just fake…this is a perfect example of how cryptocurrency becomes tangible.” 

Vessel will also feature artist residencies, “peer-to-peer” learning opportunities, and professional development programs, in an effort to support early and mid-career artists. 

Literal

The name is significant too; board member and internationally renowned curator Annika Kristensen describes Vessel as a “literal, critical, and metaphorical” space for emerging artists. 

“In today’s rapidly evolving cultural landscape, arts organisations function as vessels in multiple ways…they create spaces that hold and protect diverse voices, nuture emerging talents, and facilitate the transition of ideas between communities,” Ms Kristensen said. 

“Vessel will offer contemporary artists the invaluable, and often rare, opportunity to play at scale, with a specific context, and for a broad public audience.” 

More information about Vessel is available on their website, vesselcontemporary.org.

by KATHERINE KRAAYVANGER