A New Song For Bristol

A project in collaboration with Bristol Beacon, "A New Song For Bristol" tells the stories of hundreds of entries from Bristolians of all ages, communities, and backgrounds. These stories were transformed into a 42-foot visual artwork installed on the outside of Bristol Beacon.

A soundtrack composed of the stories and voices of Bristolians was also created to accompany the artwork.

The project was designed to bring people together and celebrate Bristol’s diversity and culture. It also aimed to create a sense of unity and pride in the city. The project was a success, with many people taking part, sharing their stories and celebrating Bristol.

The project was launched in 2020, starting with a call for the local public to convey their experiences of living in Bristol during the coronavirus pandemic through words and music.

Working on this project, I sought to bring the stories I heard to life through visuals. Despite the vulnerability and weightiness of many narratives, it was my mission to find the beauty within them while still honouring people's experiences during that challenging period of time.

I printed out many of the written submissions and listened to audio tracks. Using highlighters and pens, I began to visualise images in my mind and created numerous messy sketches. Eventually, I could see how to combine stories and integrate them all organically, which is how I landed on the flowers; they are organic, alive, and beautiful.

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