‘A kaleidoscope of colour’: The Awakening 2023 - installations revealed
NEW EXPERIENCE: Unfurl ‘is a garden like no other’, where ‘nature, art and technology combine to create something spectacular’. Picture credit: Unfurl, Air Giants Timber 2022 © Andrew Allcock
By Simon Bristow
The “world’s largest and softest robots” will be among the spectacular attractions at The Awakening this year, as the countdown to the second staging of Hull’s newest arts festival begins in earnest.
The Awakening 2023 - just over three weeks away - will bring a new perspective on the city’s maritime identity with world-class installations around the city centre.
Freedom Festival Arts Trust, which delivers The Awakening in partnership with Hull City Council, has revealed more about the creative programme and performance starting on Friday, March 17, which “highlights the city’s relationship with nature, the changing of the seasons and folkloric traditions”.
The two-night event, with a one-off folk gig on the Sunday, will draw audiences to historic parts of the city centre around Queens Gardens, Whitefriargate, Ferens Art Gallery, Trinity Square and Zebedee’s Yard.
The festival, which is also supported by Hull Maritime and the Heritage Action Zone, drew crowds of over 100,000 people at its inaugural staging last year.
One of the highlights will be an installation called Intrude which will see “a family of giant bunnies” take over the Rose Bowl near Queens Gardens. This is being delivered by Parer Studios and artist Amanda Parer from Australia.
In Queens Gardens - the last major event the space will host before refurbishment - there will be a chance to witness Nature Nocturnal by Liverpool’s Lantern Company. This is billed as “a kaleidoscope of colour as we see the natural world at night through beautiful glowing and twinkling lanterns”. This event will “bring a new lens on this space of maritime history, which had transitioned from town dock to green space in 1935”.
Moving down past Whitefriargate, throughout the night at various times, audiences will be treated to sound and visual performance from four companies, including local artist Andy Train, alongside the popular Worldbeaters’ Spark! Drummers and An Act Above’s Lightwalkers, and returning favourite from last year, Sound Intervention’s Projector Bikes.
At Zebedee’s Yard, audiences will meet Unfurl, the world’s largest and softest robots, a garden like no other where nature, art and technology combine. Wandering down Posterngate to Trinity Square, the area will be filled with light, sound and interactive games by French company Groupe LAPS.
Mikey Martins, CEO & artistic director at Freedom Festival Arts Trust, said: “The Awakening aims to bring new perspectives to our wonderful maritime identity by uncovering themes through the creative programme. The installations and performances will focus on the city’s relationship with nature, the changing of the seasons and folkloric traditions.
“So, make your Fox Masks, pop them on, let’s celebrate the end of winter together and create a new annual tradition for Hull.”
Like last year, many local businesses will be opening their doors later than usually to celebrate the event and accommodate visitors. Some venues will be offering refreshments and their own entertainment, and others are hosting special events as part of The Awakening programme.
Ferens Art Gallery will be opening their spaces later the usual and are offering another chance to see the fascinating film and music projection piece, RE:SCORE by The Broken Orchestra in their studio space, as well as a brand new unique immersive music performance called Riparian on March 18 at 8pm.
Most other events will take place between 6pm and 10pm on March 17 and 18.
Councillor Mike Ross, leader of Hull City Council, said: “This exciting programme is an invitation for everyone to come together and enjoy this spectacle across the city centre, celebrating the change in seasons from winter to spring and our maritime links.
“The line-up of international installations and performers is world-class, and I am sure people will be inspired by this spring festival as well as appreciate our wonderful spaces, art gallery and collections.”
A digital copy of the on-site guide and the #FreedomFox mask pack is now available on The Awakening’s website, where more resources and information will be revealed in the coming days.