Festival of Light 2005 - Fragrant Glasgow
FRAGRANT GLASGOW is the latest manifestation of an international arts project that uses the potency of flowers as a universal symbol across cultures and faiths.
Over 2000 people came together over two nights to celebrate unity and difference through the beauty and significance of flowers. From November 11 - 13, FRAGRANT GLASGOW transformed the award- winning Hidden Gardens into an illuminated floral haven.
The 'Fragrant' concept was created by artist Jyll Bradley who, since 2003, has successfully mounted projects in London, China and Colombia and is currently showing work as part of the reopening of Arnolfini in Bristol. With each project Bradley creates a unique process and end-result particular to the people she encounters and the stories, rituals and floral cultures they share with her.
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Starting in February, the process has seen 40,000 flowering plants from across the globe grown, cut and dried. 200 volunteers weaved these flowers into what is hoped to be the largest dried flower garlands ever created. The garland formed the centrepiece of the festival at the Hidden Gardens. |
Artist Jyll Bradley says 'Flowers and fragrance often play a role in marking life’s important moments: birth, unions and cultural celebrations. For Fragrant Glasgow, I have drawn inspiration from sources as diverse as the beautiful floral paradise carpets in the Burrell collection, to local women’s memories of their personal wedding flowers. Fragrant Glasgow is a unique and surprising celebration of human expression through flowers.'.
| The Hidden Gardens was dramatically animated with specially designed lighting and sound installations. Within the central pavilion, which hosted the main garland and floral displays, audiences experienced a programme of poetry, song, dance and music by artists from a range of culture and faith backgrounds. |
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On the evenings of the 21 to the 23rd Fragrant brought together four artists from quite distinct traditions who worked together to create a collaboration that blurred the lines between those traditions. The artists involved were Shamshad Khan (performance poet), Kathleen Graham (Gaelic singer and clarsach), Sopie Solomon (gypsy/klezmer fiddle) and Anurekha Ghosh (Kathak dancer). In addition, Malcolm Knight from the Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre transformed the xylotheque into a shadow puppet stage and retold a traditional Indian story.
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An extensive community programme was run both before and during the event. The programme started in February, getting people to sew seeds for the garland and then with a wide range of other projects: |
- Five local schools were involved in a textile project with artist Heather Lynch. They created a large scale map of Govanill and Pollokshields and created images and text that reflected their understanding and interest in greenspace and flowers. Women from a local sewing group were also involved in creating panels for the textile.
- Women from a Crossroads Community Association in Govanhill worked with a writer and visual artist to create their own handmade books.
- Young people from Pollokshields and Govanhill created large scale photographic flower collages and a linked video that captured local people's feelings about greenspace in Pollokshields.
- The work from the above three projects was then displayed in Tramway 4 over the duration of the Festival.
- Over 20 groups took part in garland making workshops and came to assist with creating the garland.
- 30 volunteers worked with Theatre producer, Divya Bhatia from Mumbai to develop the role of 'greeters'. These volunteers were then involved in welcoming people as they entered the festival, giving additional information and support as required.
For further information visit the Hidden Gardens website.
Fragrant Glasgow was funded by Scottish Arts Council, Glasgow City Council and the Eranda Foundation. |