Those About To Die Salute You

Those About To Die Salute You

from the latin “Moritori te selutant”, attributed to prisoners addressing Emperor Claudius prior to the naumachia to which they had been fated. –52 AD

HISTORY
In times of economic difficulty, Roman emperors would host violent spectator sports to placate the masses. The bloodiest and most decadent of these was the NAUMACHIA; prisoners were forced to engage in full-on naval warfare within a flooded Roman amphitheater. Variations were re-popularized in empires throughout European history, always coinciding with instances of over-indulgence at the brink of financial and societal collapse.

Videos:

Process

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Phragmites is an invasive species that grows at Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
Phragmites is an invasive species that grows at Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
I started harvesting the reeds
I started harvesting the reeds
in August of 2008.
in August of 2008.
Soon I realized I needed help.
Soon I realized I needed help.
I got brave volunteers from Craigslist,
I got brave volunteers from Craigslist,
from word of mouth,
from word of mouth,
from loyal old friends,
from loyal old friends,
Along with the underbelly...
Along with the underbelly...
...of the New York boat world.
...of the New York boat world.

The harvesting stretched on into the fall...
The harvesting stretched on into the fall...
And then on into winter.
And then on into winter.
While harvesting, we removed leaves
While harvesting, we removed leaves
from the reeds,
from the reeds,
...to make paper.
...to make paper.
I had pulled a double all-nighter...
I had pulled a double all-nighter...
prepping the leaves.
prepping the leaves.
But papermaster Ann McKeown and Allison Lindblom
But papermaster Ann McKeown and Allison Lindblom
explained the paper making process.
explained the paper making process.
They used a lot of terms like 'agitated fingering'
They used a lot of terms like 'agitated fingering'
'beating the cooch'
'beating the cooch'
and 'putting a cockle in the cooch'.
and 'putting a cockle in the cooch'.
These terms were a little confusing to me in my delirious state.
These terms were a little confusing to me in my delirious state.
I saw this old engraving of a naumachia...
I saw this old engraving of a naumachia...
And I had a de ja vu.
And I had a de ja vu.
So I proposed this space for my project and they said no.
So I proposed this space for my project and they said no.
Then we proposed this space and they said no.
Then we proposed this space and they said no.
Then we proposed this space and they said no.
Then we proposed this space and they said no.
Then we proposed this space and they said no.
Then we proposed this space and they said no.
But they said we could use it
But they said we could use it
as a temporary studio...
as a temporary studio...
Up until its scheduled asbestos abatement.
Up until its scheduled asbestos abatement.
They said that since it was going to be demolished anyway,
They said that since it was going to be demolished anyway,
We could re-use as many of the old materials
We could re-use as many of the old materials
The first boat was modeled after an Egyptian papyrus reed boat.
The first boat was modeled after an Egyptian papyrus reed boat.
The boats in Naumachias were commonly fashioned
The boats in Naumachias were commonly fashioned
after non-Roman historic vessels.
after non-Roman historic vessels.
Reeds seemed to me like a safer material to take into battle.
Reeds seemed to me like a safer material to take into battle.
But I wasn't sure if the phrag would be as bouyant as papyrus.
But I wasn't sure if the phrag would be as bouyant as papyrus.
So we decided to bolster them...
So we decided to bolster them...
...with foam.
...with foam.
Fortunately, the hockey rink floor was lined with foam,
Fortunately, the hockey rink floor was lined with foam,
As are some local beaches in Queens.
As are some local beaches in Queens.











































































































Installation

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Photo by Bryan Derballa
Photo by Bryan Derballa
Photo by Jason Andra
Photo by Jason Andra
Photo by Bryan Derballa
Photo by Bryan Derballa
Photo by Sam Horine
Photo by Sam Horine
Photo by Jason Andra
Photo by Jason Andra
Photo by Jason Andra
Photo by Jason Andra
Photo by Jason Andra
Photo by Jason Andra
Photo by Jason Andra
Photo by Jason Andra
Photo by John Perry
Photo by John Perry
Photo by John Perry
Photo by John Perry
Jade Townsend's pig ship, Photo by Noah Merenda
Jade Townsend's pig ship, Photo by Noah Merenda
Photo by Bryan Derballa
Photo by Bryan Derballa
Photo by Jason Andra
Photo by Jason Andra
Photo by Bryan Derballa
Photo by Bryan Derballa
Those About to Die Salute You, Installation View, Queens Museum of Art (2009)
Those About to Die Salute You, Installation View, Queens Museum of Art (2009)
Those About to Die Salute You, Installation View, Queens Museum of Art (2009)
Those About to Die Salute You, Installation View, Queens Museum of Art (2009)
Piece of the abandoned hockey rink/studio wall (2009)
Piece of the abandoned hockey rink/studio wall (2009)
Morutori Te Selutant, Ink on Phragmites paper (2009)
Morutori Te Selutant, Ink on Phragmites paper (2009)
Remains of the Vessel Once Occupied by the Fresh Kills Museum (2009)
Remains of the Vessel Once Occupied by the Fresh Kills Museum (2009)
Untitled (2010)
Untitled (2010)
Morutori Te Selutant (2010)
Morutori Te Selutant (2010)
Untitled (2010)
Untitled (2010)
Untitled (2010)
Untitled (2010)