MEET THE TORTOISES #1: A berry good shell-ection of sculptures
This summer, giant tortoises are taking over Jersey in an extraordinary, free public art trail across the island’s wild places, coastal vistas and urban hangouts.
The fundraising generated from the ‘Tortoise Takeover’ sculptures – which have been sponsored by local businesses and will be actioned off at the end of the trail – will be used to build a new amphibian and reptile house at Jersey Zoo.
Supporting the ‘Tortoise Takeover’ initiative as its official media partner, Express is getting behind the scenes of the trail to bring you a comprehensive guide of each of the 50 giant tortoises and the inspiration behind each sculpture’s bespoke artwork.
Find out more about the first five tortoises in the trail here…
1. A Day At The Zoo
About the tortoise: Jersey-based textile designer Miranda Bonn has been inspired by her regular visits to the zoo with her three young children. All of the drawings in ‘A Day At The Zoo’ are original paintings arranged into a repeated print design.
Artist: Miranda Bonn
About the artist: Miranda Bonn is a printed textile designer and a mother of three children. She loves to paint and create artwork and she created the tortoise sponsored by Jersey Mutual after another mother at her sons nursery saw her artwork and convinced her to submit her design. She said her tortoise took inspiration from a previous fabric design which she had created from times she has visited Jersey zoo with her children. She explains that as a textile designer her artwork is has a strong influence with nature as the tortoise is based off of designs from the Book of Matisse’s loose drawings as well.
Location: Glebe Gardens, Trinity Parish Hall
Sponsor: Jersey Mutual
2. Aasimah
About the tortoise: ‘Aasimah’ draws inspiration from Australian Aboriginal art and has been brought to life using different shades of blue, orange, glitter, and metallic gold. According to the Yorta Yorta Tribe, the tortoise is a symbol of protection, provision, and guidance, and this message is skillfully woven into the artwork. The concentric circles adorning the tortoise’s shell are reminiscent of the sky, representing the vast expanse above us, while the orange patterns symbolise the land and water. Aasimah, meaning “protector” in Aboriginal Australian, is a fitting title for this powerful and thought-provoking sculpture.
Artist: MrASingh
About the artist: MrASingh is an artist, content creator and public speaker from Birmingham. He has over 15 years experience within the creative industries and is an active advocate for arts and culture. His works include vivid and textual mixed media artworks to capture beauty and diversity and is featured in over 40 exhibitions worldwide. Throughout his career he has also launched the Wild Lotus Art Supplies brand and published two books alongside a Tedx Talk.
Location: Marina Gardens
Sponsor: Cooper&Co and Jersey Development Company
3. Astral Race
About the tortoise: The tortoise and the hare raced through the astral plane, where time and space exist in the same ethereal terrain. Deep in thought and contemplation, the tortoise said to the hare: “Unless we change this perpetual race, I see it ending in despair.”
Artist: Pixelhands
About the artist: Pixelhands is a trained illustrator who takes part in different medias of freelance work in many industries. He is a founding member of Groove Collective and put together one of Jersey’s music festivals called ‘Groove De Lecq’.
Location: Ouaisné Bay
Sponsor: Butterfield Bank (Jersey) Limited
4. Be The Change
About the tortoise: This design employs a playful use of colour based on the bright colours of frogs and reptiles at Jersey Zoo, whilst touching upon ideas around global warming and the rise in temperatures. Using thermochromic paint, the audience can change the colour of the sculpture through interaction.
Artist: Lucy Griffiths
About the artist: Lucy is a local artist who graduated from Manchester School of Art with a First class honours degree in Fine Art. Her work incorporates ideas around current global issues in a playful and interactive way, allowing the audience to connect and become part of the art.
Location: Trenton Square
Sponsor: Blue Islands
5. Berry Good Tortoise
About the tortoise: ‘Berry Good Tortoise’ was created by Rachael and Phillippa who are twin sisters and illustrators. The tortoise is covered from head to shell in a tortoise’s favourite foods and celebrations the fun-loving nature of the tortoise and the care they receive at Jersey Zoo. This design highlights the importance of fresh produce and enjoying a slower pace of life.
Artist: Rachael and Philippa Corcutt
About the artist: Rachael and Phillippa Corcutt are twin sisters who work together as illustrators, focusing on children’s illustrations. They both graduated with a First class (hons) degree in Illustration from the University of Derby and have painted over 20 sculptures for ‘Wild in Art’ public trails. They both enjoy creating playful and whimsical illustrations and characters.
Location: Saint Aubin
Sponsor: Moore Stephens
TIME TO EXPLORE…
Pick up a copy of the July edition of Connect Magazine for your FREE official Tortoise Takeover trail guide or check out the digital edition below…
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