Lion-Ships, Sirens And Illuminated Cartography: Deploying heraldic and folkloric figures in critique of Brexit

Abstract

This short research note provides an introduction to the lion-ship symbol of England’s Cinque Ports (comprising the head, forelegs and upper torso of a lion and the middle and rear section of a 13th Century turreted wooden warship) and an artist’s statement concerning my deployment of it alongside the more established figure of the (mermaidform) siren in a recent artwork entitled ‘Brexit Wrexit’ that reflects my feelings about the United Kingdom’s 2017 vote to leave the European Union. These figures are juxtaposed over a freely rendered map of Western Europe, providing a form of illuminated cartography. Discussion of the overall work, of details from it and their inspiration point to the manner in which long-established heraldic motifs and cultural figures contain embedded meanings that can be activated in fresh contexts to illuminate current socio-political developments.