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"Another Sunny Day in Paradise"
As part of a three-month residency in a small mining village, I gathered a team of fourteen people together, and overnight, covered a hill with a spiral of almost 2,000 red balloons. This intervention was the culmination of a cross-generational project that researched the history of the village. The slagheap is not only a natural landmark, but also a lasting memorial to the mining history of the area. After the First World War, one of the miners buried his helmet and bayonet at the base of the slagheap as it was being built, transforming it into an unseen war memorial. The artwork creates an image reminiscent of a field of poppies, which are not only summer flowers, but also the traditional symbol of war commemoration. In recognition of the older generation and the spirit with which they fought for future generations, the work celebrates their lives. Of course, for children, balloons are the obvious symbol of celebration. 'Another Sunny Day in Paradise' was intended as a surprise when they woke, which would fire their imaginations and provide a magical event to remember the last summer of this millennium, whilst celebrating the dawn of a new age with hope and optimism.