WHEE!
WHEE! is Ramsgate’s latest seaside attraction.
Next time you are by the toilets at Ramsgate seafront, stop outside to try out the new artwork on the wall. WHEE is an installation that has just been completed, which invites people to stop and play with their reflections in the curved letters made of mirror stainless steel. The project is a reference to the classic “hall of mirrors” seaside attraction but it’s also about the joy of being at the beach. The project was the idea of Ramsgate based art practice Mooch who have been working on public realm projects in the town since 2014.
WHEE is a 4 metre wide series of concave and convex letters that distort your image to make you wide, thin, upside down and just plain odd! The playful letters are beautifully made with mirror sides and add a punchy graphic statement whilst distorting the harbour around it.
Theresa Smith from Mooch explained “we want to give people a new reason to come to Ramsgate Seafront and do something fun that you have to actually be there to experience. It’s about getting people out and enjoying themselves following some difficult years for all of us”.
“It’s about getting people out and enjoying themselves following some difficult years for all of us”
The project was principally funded by Kent County Council as part of their Cultural Sector Build Back Better fund which aimed to find new ways of connecting with audiences and give them the confidence to attend and access culture. Ramsgate Town Council also supported the project with the Ramsgate Fund which benefits the residents of the town. The poster, designed by Ramsgate Illustrator PatrickGeorge, gives you a sense of the excitement felt by many when visiting the beach which is the inspiration behind the work.
During the installation on the 22nd September, many people stopped to ask about the project and 4 different people recalled the “crazy mirrors” which used to be by the beach on the Royal Victoria Pavilion. It was clearly a very popular attraction and so many people were delighted to have something similar back again.
With special thanks to…
Dan Bass
Julian Doyle
The poster for the project invites people to take selfies of their crazy reflections and post them with the hashtag #WHEE and Mooch will be seeing how creatively people interact with the mirrors as the world turns literally upside down. Our Facebook and Instagram @TheresaMooch. Get down to Ramsgate seafront, have a play with WHEE! and post your selfie for us!
