In a darts match where the winner takes all, two rival factions compete for land rights in Bartertown, the latest performance piece by Glasgow based artist David Stamp. A “reconstruction” of an event from 40’s Antarctica, Bartertown explores the birth of culture, survival and self-sufficiency.

Bartertown will see two men take up residence on the small island of Fathoire in Loch Maddy (North Uist) for one week. Separated from civilization by 1km of water, these two men represent the fictional countries of Davidonia and Timtoria. Upholding rival land rights to the piece of turf they stand on, they will settle the disagreement by playing a darts match each day at noon. The victor of the daily contest will win sovereignty over the island for that day and the right to hoist his standard for all to see.

Conducting research into islands and isolated communities Stamp is interested in the rituals and customs of these small societies. Folklore is an essence of a community’s culture and his work is an exploration of its function. Stamp’s inquiry looks both to the past and the future: from investigations into nostalgic longing to searching for possible beginnings to test the speculation that folklore is both fluid and in constant creation.

Bartertown is loosely based on an actual ritual that happened on Deception Island (Antarctica) in the 1940’s; one that saw the personnel of an Argentine, British and Chilean base use sport as the means of settling an international dispute over land.

Throughout the week, video documentation of the matches will be shown on a monitor in Taigh Chearsabhagh. Visit www.davidstamp.org/bartertown.htm during the performance for daily updates from Bartertown.

Matches will start everyday at 12’noon and run from 16-22 May 2005.