Meet the artists: Hannah Fox and Ronan Devlin
We’re working with two talented artists on our Hall Park Light Works project. We caught up with both Hannah Fox and Ronan Devlin to find out more about their practice and what we can expect in Workington this winter…
Where do you find inspiration for your work?
Hannah Fox: I work in and with communities so I talk to people, dig down, listen and research to try and understand and celebrate the particular quality and voice of a place. My work tends to be playful and so I love to connect to the imaginations of those who I meet as well as listen to my own. Sometimes just an old tin can or scrap of cloth, found in a place, can be inspiration enough.
Ronan Devlin: I collect random images and notes that I find interesting from art, books, film, music, podcasts and TV. I refer to these mood images to gather initial thoughts when working on any project. Specific ideas usually come to me when I’m not actively trying to think, usually when I’m out on walks with my dog Pinto.
What drew you to the Workington Lights Festival project?
HF: I love working across my home region, from streets to hilltops, beaches to towns, so an opportunity to create and present in Workington at this fantastic event was not to be missed. This festival is slap bang in the town and is really accessible and central to the Workington winter celebrations and I am excited to be a part of such an important occasion in the Workington calendar.
RD: I love making work that’s both about and has an affect on a place. This is a great project as there is such a rich cultural history to draw from in Workington and the Hall setting is a stunning canvas to convey this.
What is it about working with light that is so special?
HF: I grew up loving the fairground and the thrill of seeing an illuminated circus tent on the outskirts of a town at night. The magic of beautiful lights and movement in an otherwise dark place has always captured my imagination.
RD: Light feels magical and emotional to me – it’s ethereal, fleeting and can change the atmosphere and perception of a place.
Is there a specific lighting technique or approach that is integral to your work?
HF: I work across techniques as I value both the hand made low tech as well as the sophistication of digital work. It depends on the purpose and the situation. Sometimes I create fire lit shadow theatre and simple illuminated structures, on other occasions I make digital animation and project on a huge scale. I am a visual artist and respond to the time and place with ideas that are supported by the technique that best fits.
RD: Not really, but I do try and think of ways to change how a place feels and what might surprise and delight the audience.
What piece of work are you most proud of?
HF: I built a large cinema in Blackburn Cathedral made entirely from cardboard when I worked with the Cardboard Box Company. It was a beautiful homage to the many grand and ornate cinemas that had been and gone throughout the history of the town. 40 people on cardboard seats, under the glow of decorative cardboard lights watched an animated fairytale film made in cardboard and ate popcorn from cardboard cones. We showed the story, 10 times a day for 3 days, of a little girl from Blackburn who travelled to the Arctic on an adventure to bring back colour to her town.
RD: I’m very proud of Anomaly, a light & water installation I made on a lake in North Wales for a live theatre performance, Galwad as part of the Unboxed Festival.
When is your favourite time of day to create?
HF: I like working late into the night.
RD: There isn’t a specific time, I try and do a normal 9-5 but make sure I have tools at the ready if creative ideas happen outside of this.
Does art help you in other areas of your life?
HF: I am very lucky to have opportunities to be creative and I think it helps me to stay happy and open to what life throws my way!
RD: It definitely does. Without getting too mystic, entering into a creative flow state is a meditative release and feels like a connection with something outside of me.
What can we expect to experience at Workington Lights Festival?
HF: I am part of a big team of talented people working towards creating the Lights Festival this year. This means we will see projections and moving lights, enjoy structures and performers and hear a specially created soundtrack of sounds and music collected from Workington itself.
RD: Workington Hall, cloaked in light, colour & sound, riding a mystic unicorn.
What do you love most about West Cumbria?
HF: What a landscape with so much variety! My favourite train journey is up the West coast right next to the sea.
RD: The landscape is stunning and the people are sound, it’s a pleasure each time I visit.
Hall Park Light Works takes place at Workington Hall on Saturday 30 November and Sunday 1 December between 5:30pm-8:30pm both nights. The event is free to all and no ticket is required. We hope to see you there.
