Chimerascope: Journey to the Podium
Chimerascope was commissioned By Essex County Council for "Journey to the Podium" a collaborative project between artists and top tier athletes aiming to encapsulate the essence of an athlete in training for the London 2012 Games.
My paired athlete was British Paralympian sailor Hannah Stodel, one of the British Sonar Sailing Team based at the National Sailing Academy in Weymouth.
My paired athlete was British Paralympian sailor Hannah Stodel, one of the British Sonar Sailing Team based at the National Sailing Academy in Weymouth.
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Inspired by Hannah's role as team tactician and the interdependent nature of a three-man crew, I developed the 'Chimerascope', a series of digital animations displayed on recycled technologies inside a wood cabinet. An optical illusion, creating a three-dimensional depth that would - if real - be longer than the cabinet itself, Chimerascope reflects and refracts my experiences of Hannah's training through a kaleidoscope of the shifting conditions and constant change that she and her team deal with; it aims to mirror the illusion of ease we see them bring to competing events that that belie the complexity of knowledge and intensive work that underpins what they do. Containing the core of the work within a decorative cabinet reflects the athlete's (often hidden) core of perseverance.
Special thanks to Walter Reid for his kind support and skilled interpretation of the cabinet designs.
Special thanks to Walter Reid for his kind support and skilled interpretation of the cabinet designs.
Exhibition schedule
February 2014 - Essex Record Office, Chelmsford
The Chimerascope is currently on display as a solo piece at Essex Record Office, also home to the ECC Arts Team who commissioned it. Visiting information & opening times for the ERO can be found here
13 - 29 August 2012 – Westminster Hall, London
Selected works from the Journey to the Podium Collection, part of the 'Arts in Parliament' programme, inspired by 2012’s Cultural Olympiad
3rd Feb-31st March 2012 - Beecroft Gallery, Southend
The 2011 commissions combined with 2009 and 2010 commissions: the first time the collection will be seen as a whole.
Nov 17 2010 - Jan 29 2011 Gibberd Gallery Harlow
First exhibition incorporating the 2010 commissions, including Chimerascope.
You can - courtesy of Essex County Council - download the 2010 Commissions catalogue or the 2012 version which features work from all three years of the programme.
February 2014 - Essex Record Office, Chelmsford
The Chimerascope is currently on display as a solo piece at Essex Record Office, also home to the ECC Arts Team who commissioned it. Visiting information & opening times for the ERO can be found here
13 - 29 August 2012 – Westminster Hall, London
Selected works from the Journey to the Podium Collection, part of the 'Arts in Parliament' programme, inspired by 2012’s Cultural Olympiad
3rd Feb-31st March 2012 - Beecroft Gallery, Southend
The 2011 commissions combined with 2009 and 2010 commissions: the first time the collection will be seen as a whole.
Nov 17 2010 - Jan 29 2011 Gibberd Gallery Harlow
First exhibition incorporating the 2010 commissions, including Chimerascope.
You can - courtesy of Essex County Council - download the 2010 Commissions catalogue or the 2012 version which features work from all three years of the programme.
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Artists of the Future
In connection with Journey to the Podium, Essex County Council also ran 'Artists of the Future' where I mentored young artist Emmie Hubbard through the development of a new work which was exhibited at the Gibberd Gallery with all the other work by the commissioned artists and their mentored students. You can read about Emmie's work for the exhibition here