Sea Charts Art – TUI Cruises – Mein Schiff Flow
Submitted by: Anna Wiebke
Lead Designer: Anne Cecilie Beckstrøm
Studio: ICArt
Outfitter:
Shipyard:
Completion Date: 27/11/202
This art concept gives formerly used and decommissioned TUI Cruises sea charts a new life by transforming them into unique contemporary artworks. At the heart of the project is the idea of upcycling: materials that have completed their original navigational purpose are preserved and reinterpreted, creating a direct connection between sustainability, maritime identity and artistic expression.
Two different artistic approaches explore the potential of the sea charts as a medium. The first is inspired by the work of artist Elisabeth Lecourt, who transforms maps through precise folding techniques. Folded TUI Cruises sea charts become sculptural compositions in which coastlines, routes, coordinates and other cartographic elements are transformed into an abstract, three-dimensional language. The original function of the charts remains subtly visible, allowing the viewer to discover their maritime history beneath the new artistic form.
The second approach uses TUI Cruises sea charts as a canvas for crayon and ink. Hand-drawn lines, marks and gestures interact with the precise structures of the nautical charts, creating a dialogue between technical navigation and artistic intuition, between order and spontaneity. The combination of the printed cartographic information with the expressive qualities of crayon and ink creates works that are both contemporary and deeply connected to the sea.
The artworks can be produced in various sizes, allowing them to respond flexibly to the architectural context and to be presented as individual statements or as a cohesive ensemble. A potential installation location is the Atlantik Restaurant, where the maritime origin of the material can create a particularly strong dialogue with the identity and atmosphere of the space.
The project is developed in partnership with ICART, bringing together artistic expertise, curation and project development to create a concept that is both visually compelling and authentic to the cruise environment.
By transforming an authentic element of the cruise experience into art, the project goes beyond conventional decoration. Each sea chart carries traces of journeys, destinations and navigation; through artistic intervention, this history is given a second life. The result is a sustainable and highly individual art concept that combines material reuse with storytelling and creates an authentic sense of place within the cruise environment.
