Leviathan

Leviathan is an ambitious artistic project looking at some of the urgent issues of our times through a ten-part film cycle, series of paintings, sculptures and virtual reality trilogy conceived and directed by Shezad Dawood. In dialogue with a wide range of marine biologists, oceanographers, political scientists, neurologists and trauma specialists, Leviathan explores the notions of marine welfare, migration and mental health and their possible interconnections.

As much open-source resource as artist’s project, Leviathan is continually informed by an ever-growing number of Scientists to imagine various speculative futures that may extend from the present moment. When the project is exhibited, researchers are invited as part of a dynamic Public Programme to present their work to new audiences both live and online, generating an ever-growing network of participants and audiences. These curated events and conversations, made accessible through a free Vimeo channel and open-source research papers, anchor the project in the present challenges that we face as a global community.

Following its inaugural presentation in Venice in May 2017 to coincide with the 57th Art Biennale, Episodes 4 and 5 of the ten-part series have been produced, and Leviathan has toured to Mostyn Wales, Plymouth Arts Centre, Barakat Contemporary Korea, Tale of A Tub Rotterdam, HE.RO Amsterdam, Kunstverein Munich, and is currently on view in its largest UK presentation to date at Bluecoat Liverpool.

Further presentations at MOCA Toronto and the Toronto Biennial are scheduled for this year. Its international tour will continue throughout 2020 and 2021, with presentations scheduled at Moca Busan, Folkestone Triennial, Kai Art Center Estonia, La Panacée Montpellier, Fogo Island Arts, CCA Tel Aviv, Henie Onstad Kunstsenter Oslo, culminating in a final London-based presentation of all ten film episodes in 2021.