An Alphabet for Black Rock, Brighton & Hove
An Alphabet for Black Rock - Poster Commission
Year
2021-2023
Client
Brighton & Hove City Council
Services
Public Art Strategy and Commission Management
Locations
Black Rock
Brighton & Hove
A site-specific alphabet for Black Rock
We were commissioned by Brighton & Hove City Council to devise a public art strategy for the enabling works project for this key site on Brighton & Hove eastern seafront. The strategy sets out to build on the existing collection of permanent artworks along the seafront and to use this interim site for temporary interventions, and provide a space for others to create the unexpected.
The long-term future use of part of the site has yet to be confirmed, but this provides a great opportunity for creative interim use and establishing a framework for current and future public art commissioning.
“It’s been fascinating to see ‘An Alphabet for Black Rock evolve from the initial concept, and how each artist has reflected their own unique style and interpretation of the theme.”
This temporary poster commission was been created by 13 artists and designers selected from a longlist of nominations from local artists and arts organisations.
They had individually contributed two letters of the alphabet responding to the site, its users and uses. A range of techniques and approaches have been used, from photography and illustration to painting and sign writing, including cyanotypes created from found objects from the site and produced on the site with sunlight on the beach and sea water.
The alphabet and a selection of names of the vegetated and noble plant species was previously exhibited on the timber fence adjacent to the public footpath, which leads from Madeira Drive up to the Temple and down to the Undercliff Walk. The plant species were chosen from a long list of noble and protected plant species that were identified by ecologists who completed a botanical survey on the Black Rock site in 2020. To maximise the inclusion of letters but also because of their evocative names we selected the following:
- Sea Kale (a rare and notable relation of the humble cabbage – existing Sea Kale found on the site has already been transplanted to the new vegetated shingle waves and is supplemented by seed sowing from Wakehurst Seed Bank and plug planting)
- Field Scabious (on the red list and at high risk of global extinction)
- Sea Pea (being sourced from Wakehurst Seed Bank)
- Loose Silky Bent (rare in Sussex and on the red list and near threatened)
- Wild Marjoram (being sourced from Wakehurst Seed Bank)
Some of the letters have been relocated to other areas of the site when the fence was taken down for the construction of the link road. The first location was on the hoarding of the Reading Room, prior to its fit out by its new operator.
The artists are:
Maria Amidu https://www.mariaand.co/maria-amidu/
Artist based in Brighton & Hove. Makes artist books, site specific print and photographic installations. Letters: M & W
Hannah Berry http://hannahberry.co.uk/
Graphic novelist, comics creator, writer, illustrator and campaigner based in Brighton & Hove. Was appointed UK Comics Laureate 2019–2021. Letters: D & N
David Blandy http://davidblandy.co.uk/
Artist based between London and Brighton & Hove. Works with the image in the digital world. Letters: A & I
Atlas Easton https://www.instagram.com/atlaseastonart/
Queer, non binary, trans illustrator and comic artist based between Brighton & Hove and Northampton. Letters: H & Q
Hannah Eaton https://myriadeditions.com/creator/hannah-eaton/
Artist and writer based in Brighton & Hove, author of two graphic novels; Naming Monsters and Blackwood. Letters: C & Z
Martin Glover https://www.instagram.com/gloverman_art/
Deaf architect, art facilitator and BSL user based in London. Letters: K & T
Daniel Locke http://www.daniellocke.com/
Artist and graphic novelist based in Brighton & Hove. Interested in the discoveries of contemporary science. Letters: F & P
Fraser Muggeridge http://pleasedonotbend.co.uk/
London based graphic designer known for his use of colour and type. Letters: L & O
Nik the Brush https://www.nikthebrush.co.uk/
Traditional sign writer and muralist based in Brighton & Hove. Letters: R & S
Danny Noble https://dannyskagal.wixsite.com/mysite
Comic maker, writer and illustrator based in Brighton. Recently illustrated children’s books by comedian Adrian Edmondson. Letters: E & Y
Wumi Olaosebikan http://www.wumzum.com/
Illustrator, mural artist and animator based in London. Heavily influenced by comics, games and manga styles. Letters: G & U
Simon Roberts https://www.simoncroberts.com/
Photographer based in Brighton & Hove. Practice encompasses video, text and installation. Interested in notions of identity and belonging. Letters: B & V - see Simon’s video of making the work here
Martin Seeds https://martinseeds.com/work
Photographer based in Brighton & Hove exploring memory, conflict and symbolic landscape.Letters: J & X.
Graphic design by artist Eleonora Marton
Print and installation by Print & Sign, Brighton & Hove City Council.
Artists have also been appointed to develop two permanent commissions on the site which will be installed in late 2024:
Katie Schwab has been commissioned to develop sculptural seating elements within the wider landscaping which will provide a backdrop to the event space and new low level route to the Marina. Informed by the work of sculptor William Mitchell, local artist and designer Peggy Angus, and materials found in the city she is aiming for the work to be striking and a distinctive objects, that build on local civic artworks, social and cultural history, ecology and craft. See here.
Brighton-based, internationally renowned artists Anna Dumitriu and Alex May are creating three innovative marker sculptures for sections of the new boardwalk. The artists have combined photogrammetry scanning and 3D modelling to produce digital collages that reveal hidden stories about the nature, history and future of this important location. The sculptures will be accompanied by a series of augmented reality (AR) artworks and a web resource. These will be installed in November 2024.
“It will be exciting to see this alphabet used extensively over the coming months to help inform and educate visitors, while highlighting the unique qualities of this very special and well-loved section of our world-famous seafront.”
See Black Rock and the Sea Kale: Friends with Benefits for more information on how artists and creative practitioners will be invited to interrogate this unique site and make proposals for innovative ways to celebrate and reimagine what Black Rock is and might be.
The projects were funded by the former Local Enterprise Partnership as part of the percent for art initiative.
See here for more information on the project.