Folkestone Station Blue Splash
Mooch worked in partnership with Strange Cargo Arts whose Millennium exhibition, Like the Back of my Hand cast the hands of people in the Folkestone community aged from a few months to 100 years. SCA were then invited to be display the hands along the approach to this central train station. The project was part funded by Arts & Business and opened by Stephen Deuchar, the Director of Tate Britain.
Mooch conceived and installed the 55 metre abstract blue splash mosaic in which the hands were set, transforming a previously run down location and creating a dynamic, urban space for the seaside town. The huge splash of blue draws in the traveller to engage with the detail of the beautiful hand casts and the stories they tell.
This installation has been recognised for the positive impact it has made in the community and the realisation of a new icon for Folkestone by being short-listed for the Arts & Business Public Art Award 2005 and winning the Rouse Public Art Award for Strange Cargo Arts in 2005.
The images show the station at it’s opening, with hundreds of visitors. Also when the station was dressed for the Folkestone Triennial, welcoming visitors as they come to join the 30,00 visitors who have come to visit this extraordinary event in the first 10 days. You can also see the SCA project “Other People’s Photographs” panel on the street post referencing the hands and one of the contributors.
