Art, Not War – "Dazzle 2015" Art Battleship

Text and photos by Chen Chi-Hsiang. I have visited London annually to see my daughter for many years, making it another familiar European city for me. The riverside scenery is charming; amidst modernized updates, new buildings and construction cranes have become part of the urban landscape. I often take leisurely walks along the River Thames that cuts through London, choosing random sections to wander. It offers poetic and picturesque views of beautiful cityscapes and historic landmarks, with unexpected encounters and feelings each time.

London is emulating New York, with skyscrapers rising one after another. Looking to the right from the modern Tate Modern reveals this trend. As modernization progresses, London embraces the juxtaposition of old and new, creating a distinct new scene.

This year, while strolling along the Thames, I discovered a unique ship moored on the opposite bank near Shakespeare’s Globe. It is a work by British artist Tobias Rehberger, who painted a battleship that participated in World War I, inviting imagination and contemplation. The vessel is constructed entirely from black-and-white cylindrical graphics, with overlapping tubular lines forming both flat and three-dimensional shapes, reminiscent of Cubism, particularly the style of French painter Robert Delaunay.

During last year’s centenary commemorations of World War I across Europe, this piece carried a sense of warning and deep reflection, seemingly telling people: “Art, not war.”