Imagining Godzilla is an experimental platform for short term, semi-residential art-research projects, based on the sailing catamaran Godzilla.

Institute for Coping with Destruction artists discussing their bore well -project on board Godzilla.

The Imagining Godzilla -project focuses on investigating the environmental challengesfacing the Baltic Sea and its surroundings. It is conceived and run by artists Merja Puustinen and Andy Best. With over 20 years of experience sailing in the Baltic Sea, Best and Puustinen are concerned with the increasing levels of pollution, biodiversity loss, and levels of shipping apparent in the area. Imagining Godzilla is an attempt to use artistic means to research these phenomena.

Can you imagine?

The first edition of the residency occurred in Helsinki during August 2019 in collaboration with Bioart Society. Since then, over 50 artists from different backgrounds have participated representing a wide cross-section of artistic disciplines. Projects on board Godzilla have included sound art, recordings from both above and below the waves, video, creative writing, drone photography, performance, as well as material collection and experimentation. 

Our aim now is to build an international network of artistic residency centres and scientific research centers with an initial focus on the Baltic Sea. The sailing catamaran hosts artist-researchers during visits to partner locations. Site-specific working, coupled with dissemination and discussion of previous artworks and research to local audiences, are key aims. Outcomes include unique artworks, performances, exhibitions, journal articles, and research papers.

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