The Kent Cultural Baton has invited five artists to go on a retreat with lead artist Nicole Mollett to the Hoo Peninsula in Kent. Working in co-operation with an English Heritage project to understand how the history and archaeology of the Hoo Peninsula landscape has contributed to its character, the artists will be exploring, researching and mapping the area to make a series of artist responses to the experience. The artists work in a range of media from sculpture, to installation to sound work. They are Jessica Akerman, Bridgette Ashton, Dolores De Sade, Filipe Gomes, and Cara Flynn.
Jessica Akerman is an artist who creates drawings, objects, and installations which are often influenced by local history and folklore, combining fact with mythologies, both those more widely accepted and those of her own invention. For more information on her work go to; www.jessicaakerman.com
Bridgette Ashton’s work examines places and narratives, both real and invented. Her objects, drawings, prints and photographs are often flagrantly nostalgic; celebrating pastiche and melancholy while simultaneously identifying ambiguous networks and relationships. The pieces retain indications of materiality and process, appearing to allude to the obsessiveness of the hobbyist. For more information on her work go to; www.bridgetteashton.co.uk
Dolores De Sade’s work is focused on the landscape, taking inspiration from things most usually unseen or unnoticed- macro elements, sound recordings and electro magnetic readings, i.e. the objects of scientific studies reworked into more illustrative depictions. Dolores will be investigating manmade interventions into the landscape in order to represent it as ‘wild’. This could be landscaping, planting, excavation, road, hedge and fence building across the Hoo peninsula. For more information on her work go to; www.doloresdesade.com.
Cara Flynn’s work takes inspiration from people, places and stories and uses the concept of storytelling through space. Her passion for sustainability has led me to work increasingly in the public realm, where I aspire to create artworks that help to promote a deeper understanding of our relationship with the environment. She designs spaces that tell stories, create experiences and engage communities. Her work is often as part of a collect of artists under the name Fourth Wall Creations.www.fourthwallcreations.com.
Originally a Music Composer, Filipe Gomes has in more recent years turned his attention to the sonic world; producing works that incorporate a strong sense of narrative and that place the listener within sonic situations. Filipe began his journey as a sonic artist by creating The Audiobook Adaptation of Michael Rosen’s Sad Book, in which Filipe makes use of multiple simultaneous sonic narratives in order to accurately represent the book as a whole. He has also produced numerous sound installations, the most renowned of which being The Cervia; a sound installation that brought a run down, non-functioning steam boat back to life through sound.
For more information on his work go to; www.bababoomsonics.co.uk
The Kent Cultural Baton is a silver Airstream caravan, which has been travelling the county asking people to share local stories and giving them the chance to learn about their area’s past. The aim is to present the curious tales as a snapshot of Kent’s fascinating history as part of the cultural celebrations for the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. The resulting ‘map’ will chart the many stories, photographs, drawings and creative writing captured by artists from local people to build a permanent record for future generations and give residents a different perspective on the place where they live. The Baton is the work of artist Nicole Mollett. The project is funded by Kent County Council and Arts Council.
