Graduation project
A Superyacht Encounter
Shai Ben-Ami (and Charles Weinberg)
An installation and film confront the normalisation of superyachts as symbols of success and prestige.
A Superyacht Encounter confronts the normalization of superyachts as symbols of success and prestige. Based on a personal encounter with two of the world’s largest superyachts, an installation and film styled as a promotion in fact exposes the bitter reality concealed behind the glossy façade — from the glaring wealth disparity and elitism that permeate yacht shows to the mistreatment of crew members, the severe environmental impact, and more. The representation of superyachts on social media, in cinema and by the yachting industry perpetuates the illusion of attainable luxury and prioritizes wealth accumulation over sustainability and equity. If the superyacht is the epitome of contemporary aspirational values, asks collaborative art and design studio Weinberg & Ben-Ami, where are we heading?