EDUARDO Paolozzi’s Redditch mosaics have been bought to life through hand animations created by Worcestershire students as part of 40th anniversary celebrations of the artists works.
The games design and media students from Heart of Worcestershire College leaned on their animating skills to develop overlaying animations for the mosaics, which come alive when viewed through a smartphone or tablet via an augmented-reality app called Artivive.
Students’ animations included fire breathing dragons, high speed trains, combusting jet engines, spinning ferris wheels and an animatronic, voice box resembling a church organ.
Visitors to the Kingfisher, who engaged with the students’ works on Friday (April 21), referred to the animations as ‘clever’ and ‘fantastic’.
Student, Oscar said: “I’m glad we’ve given people a new appreciation for the artwork. I was excited to work on the project as I’ve always enjoyed the mosaics, having interpreted references to Star Wars within them as a youngster.”
Millie Clark, student engagement officer, Heart of Worcestershire College said: “The project has been a great opportunity for students to do something they’re passionate about. Their efforts have been brilliant.”
The 12 mosaics developed by world renowned artist, Eduardo Paolozzi and unveiled 40 years ago in April 1983 appear high on the walls of the Kingfisher shopping centre, akin to stained glass windows.
Every individual piece was hand-painted and cut with the help of mosaic experts in Spilimbergo, northern Italy, a town with a mosaic-making tradition dating back two centuries.
Paolozzi, a Scottish artist known for his sculpture and graphics works is widely considered to be a pioneer of the pop art movement.
The students have had support with the project from both Dom Breadmore, an artistic director at Coventry based arts and technology non-profit Ludicrooms and Louisa Davies, a freelance artist and consultant involved in the Arts Council England, Cultural Compact project.
Dom said: “I’m a huge fan of Eduardo Paollozi, in my opinion he’s one of the most significant artists of all time and the students have really embraced his arts openness to interpretation.
“Despite the work being static, they have managed to capture the movement portrayed within the work to bring it to life.”
Louisa said: “Paolozzi’s mosaics are at the heart of the regions cultural heritage and the project has been a way for these young people to learn about and celebrate that.”
Go to: https://artivive.com/ for more information about Artivive. Available for download on Android and Iphone.
