The Marottes

Jo Lawrence re-imagines rejected rubbish as precious archaeological finds of the Anthropocene. The imagined formation of New Doggerland from accumulated waste washed up in the North Sea gives rise to a future culture inspired by the visual overload of plastic detritus. Carried during processions ‘marottes’ (heads on sticks with articulated mouths) are used to disseminate news and ideas through song.

The actual practice of carrying marottes originated in mediaeval England where jesters carried small replicas of themselves as heads on sticks, often with articulated mouths.

The work was produced in response to the theme of New Doggerland curated by Jane Millar for an exhibition at Thameside Studio Gallery 1-16 February 2020.

New Doggerland was a new multi-disciplinary artists project for a future imagining of physical and cultural re-connection between Britain and the European mainland. Doggerland is the name given to the ancient landmass, now submerged, that once connected Britain to Northern Europe. What if a new land mass rises up and we become physically part of the mainland again?

New Doggerland is a project about future land and humans. It asks questions to which the exhibitors and participants respond with different ideas and answers. Who will be living there and how? It may evoke a Ballardian dystopia, or ideas of possible Utopia. Or could New Doggerland be the heterotopia where we go to experience 'other' selves, a place of becoming?

(by Jane Millar)