Cruise & Ferry Interiors 2021

1 0 8 INTERV IEW Art fit for a cruise adventure Curating an art collection for a new cruise ship is a complex challenge. Michele Witthaus talks to SMC Design’s art team to find out how it developed the impressive collection on Saga Cruises’ new ship, Spirit of Adventure S MC Design is an international design studio that provides integrated design solutions to the marine sector. The company has an art consultancy that offers clients a complete artwork service, including budget control, in-house procurement, administration and overseeing cataloguing, as well as marketing where required. Jennie Drummond, head of art at SMC Design, and Emmie Ratter, senior art consultant and project manager, have worked on an impressive 30 passenger ship projects between them over the past 13 years. Both have art history degrees and as Drummond says, “we have the ability and desire to articulate narratives and draw together overarching themes within onboard collections”. Saga Cruises is a familiar client for the pair, as they previously delivered the art collection for Spirit of Adventure’s sister ship, the brand’s first newbuild, Spirit of Discovery. Both ships are entering service this spring within a few weeks of each other While the two vessels have many similarities in their design, itineraries and passenger profiles, much effort has gone into ensuring the two art collections have clear individual identities. “The narrative for Spirit of Discovery was the British Isles, their landscape, heritage, flora and fauna,” says Drummond. “We picked out colours and themes running throughout to fit that narrative. Spirit of Adventure will continue this but delve deeper into exploring the materiality of artworks.” The ability to choose from a wide range of styles and influences can lead to great “ We’re always looking for surprising, interesting and novel ways for artists to engage with the ship ” Jennie Drummond Created for the Britannia Lounge on Spirit of Adventure, Debbie Smyth’s thread- and beadwork ‘Adrift ’ series documents Saga’s rich heritage