Guernsey Airport’s terminal now has a new design, aimed at brightening up the public space, thanks to artists Tiffany-Anna and Woodie.
The dynamic duo have brought a brilliantly bright and vivid design to an empty space, with their artwork packed with local references and imagery.
Woodie said it’s “been an absolute joy to work on. The ideas are all from things that we sort of partly associate with Guernsey”.
“Obviously we’ve got the seaweed in there, the vraic, a Guernsey Lilly, a little paper airplane,” he said. “You’ve got the Puffin in there, mackerel from the ocean, coordinates for the airport, and then just some abstract fun with a little Butterfield logo in the corner too.”
Tiffany-Anna added that the experience has been a really positive one for both the artists, even with some late night painting sessions.
“I’ve loved it. We’ve both loved it. He’s worked on murals before. This is the first time that I’ve done something this big, and I loved it. I love people coming in and like talking to us, and saying, ‘Oh, what’s this? What’s this?’ and trying to imagine what it is before it’s even painted.”
It’s not just gone down well with the artists behind the bright and brilliant piece, with David Buddery, the Commercial Development Project Manager for Guernsey ports, praising the work, and it’s impact on the public space.
“It draws your attention, it’s a bit of a focus point. Sometimes airports can be a little bit sterile, a little bit quiet, a little bit unfun. They’re just part of a process of going on holiday or on a trip, whereas now we’ve got something that just brightens up your day!
“If you’re first arriving in Guernsey it gives talking points to ask your taxi driver about, or ask your Guernsey friends about, ‘what does this mean?’ ‘what does that represent?’.”
Mr Buddery said there might be room for more large art pieces in Guernsey too.
“There’s definitely a bit of a movement. I know Woody is a great advocate of street art and things like that. So I think why not? If it’s space that needs to be utilised and it’s not used for anything else, let people express themselves!”
The piece was sponsored by Butterfield, which has previously worked with Art House Jersey to inject art into people’s day-to-day lives.
The company’s VP of Marketing and Communications, Claire Heaume was full of praise for the artwork, and the artists behind it.
“It’s brilliant. I think it would be a great focal point for people standing in the queues or waiting at the airport, for visitors coming in to learn different elements about Guernsey. So I think it just adds a real interactive element to this space.”
Asked if there was more to do to bring art and culture to public spaces, Ms Heume referenced the work on the red side of the Channel Islands earlier this year, as a possible example to bring to our Bailiwick.
“We had a big installation called Bubble Texture, which is right outside our offices, which is an amazing site to behold. It changed colour night and day, there were music elements. They had yoga sessions going on and ballet, and we were really pleased.
“We will certainly look at different opportunities to do the same in Guernsey as well, because it was a really community minded kind of piece of art.”
Butterfield didn’t just get its logo imprinted onto the airport’s wall through any old paint. It has also had a colour named after it.
Woodie used an example of the firm’s advertising to have a colour mixed specially as none available locally matched.
The personal touch went down excellently with the sponsor.
“It’s really great that Woody and Tiffany have brought elements of our brand into it, and it’s been a really interactive process with the ports and with them. We’re really pleased with how it’s come out.”
The artists were asked if there was more room for public displays of art, and both said they would fully support initiatives to inject artwork into our day to day lives.
“Absolutely, I think it’s it’s so important to see art just in life, every day, it makes you happy,” said Tiffany. “Depending on the art it can brighten up a space. It can put a smile on your face. It’s so important mentally, just for your well being of people, I just think it’s so important to have artwork and color and artwork everywhere.”
Woodie added: “There is, there has to be and there needs to be.”
Last week Express focussed on Street Art, it’s impact locally, and whether Guernsey should find it’s own “Place to Paint”.
The two artists were asked if they’d add their voices to the call for a legal space for artists to be able to hone their craft, and be encouraged to paint big, loud and proud.
There was no doubt in their answers, with Tiffany saying “a Million percent!” and Woodie stating “Yeah, absolutely!”
He continued: “Obviously, being from the UK originally, but working all over, doing stuff with other communities. Jersey, UK, we’ve been to Monaco this year!
“Fortunately, there is stuff like this that happens everywhere, and we fully, fully support it and are right behind it.”
