The Creative Spread over the Land
As omnivores we consume pretty much everything. We are what we eat; our food, water and the air we breathe combine to be the core to our existence. With most of our food today wrapped in one type or another of cellophane, we along with all other living matter are morphing in health, reproduction and in the longevity of our lives. We are absorbing through our digestive system and skin, minute plastic particles, estimated to be as much as a credit card's worth of plastic a week, that has leaked from our packaging into our food chain, water systems and atmosphere.
Performance by Noel East-Hall
As omnivores we consume pretty much everything. We are what we eat; our food, water and the air we breathe combine to be the core to our existence. With most of our food today wrapped in one type or another of cellophane, we along with all other living matter are morphing in health, reproduction and in the longevity of our lives. We are absorbing through our digestive system and skin, minute plastic particles, estimated to be as much as a credit card's worth of plastic a week, that has leaked from our packaging into our food chain, water systems and atmosphere.
Performance by Noel East-Hall
Hunter Gathers
As with the stag or the bear, man lived with and amongst nature, till he learnt to till the land and become a farmer and learnt to harness and exploit the harvest from other living things. Over thousands of years man has now removed itself so completely from its organic roots that it has come insensitive to the damage and consequences of its actions. Using the Threadbare helmet as our ancestors would have used the stag's head and performed amongst the dead in an ancient graveyard.
As with the stag or the bear, man lived with and amongst nature, till he learnt to till the land and become a farmer and learnt to harness and exploit the harvest from other living things. Over thousands of years man has now removed itself so completely from its organic roots that it has come insensitive to the damage and consequences of its actions. Using the Threadbare helmet as our ancestors would have used the stag's head and performed amongst the dead in an ancient graveyard.
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Threadbare Commissioned by Maidstone Museum for Cabinets of Curiosity 2014 / Reflections in Time - Creative Centre, Rye 2023 A life-sized male torso made entirely from two layers of sellotape and cotton threads, it represents the sparse records of a blood line that invaded our shores in 1066, the Barham family, spanning 500 years. They built Maidstone museum, were the chief culprits in the murder of Thomas à Beckett, re-emerged in Richard II’s reign to put down a rebel revolt from Kent and were linked by marriage to Henry VIII’s beheaded wives. Integrated, they dissolved into the indigenous families of the south of England, with little evidence surviving, just records now held together with sellotape. Yet this invisible bloodline could well like disintegrating cellophane run down the generations, mingled throughout the Kent population. Even their coat of arms is shrouded in mystery with three muzzled bears – thought to be a pun on bare – Bar(e)ham. |
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Maundy
Thursday 14th April 2022 Invited by the Canterbury Diocese to create an immersive installation The last 24 hours to mark the visit of the Archbishop of Canterbury to St Mary’s, Sellindge. 
Music was specially composed by Brian G Hanson, talking with Justin Welby.
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A lot happens in The last 24 hours of Jesus’ life. It starts with the last supper and ends with his death. Over an evening meal Jesus breaks bread and drinks wine as a symbol of remembrance, which has become the symbolic ritual of the Christian faith. Jesus then predicts and finds that each of his disciples' betrayals him, leading to a series of overnight interrogations and abuse by his church and the occupying military force, the Romans. When dawn breaks and due to a predisposed mob, he is then put on trial, condemned and humiliated to carry a cross for his own crucifixion, collimating with his death that evening. It has a shocking similarity to present day's abuse of power when authorities are faced with peaceful demonstration or opposition in politics, nationalism and religion. Works included: Everyone Wants to go to Heaven, but Nobody wants to Die, No-one is Perfect, The Last Supper, Would you Carry the Means to your own Death and Crown of Thorns. The event was covered by the National press for the Easter Sunday papers and featured on the front page of the Observer Newspaper. The BBC programme Have I Got News for You also broadcast it the following week. |