working whispers
Creative Practitioner- Imogen Higgins
Sculpture
Imogen Higgins
•Imogen Higgins is a material led artist who is inspired by the way different materials look, feel and behave.
•When working with a material, she like to practise traditional and then use these traditional techniques to create something wholly unexpected.
•She has a passion for sharing creative experiences with others which is why she is currently working as a community artist.
•She has also delivered lectures and practical skills to university students concerning the use of sustainable building materials in art.
‘Working Whispers Reflection
In 2019/2020 year 5 students from Pontarddulais and St Joseph’s Cathedral Primary School embarked on an exciting new journey to explore their industrial past. As a team of five creative facilitators we set out to expand the children’s knowledge of concept, skill and creative expression. However, most importantly, we aimed to stay true to the basic principles of community art and worked collaboratively with children. We wanted to allow their creative expression and imagination to shine through. My role as a ceramicist and willow sculptor was to introduce the children to working in 3D.
After visiting the Big Pit museum with the children it was clear to see that they had a real interest in the history. At the time we visited there was an exhibition on Chinese mining life which heavily featured myths and legends. Since seeing that exhibition I wondered whether there were similar stories surrounding the Welsh mines that we could explore. After much research I came across the myth of the Coblynau. A goblin like creature that inhabited the mines during the Victorian era. The Coblynau was generally a friendly creature that aided the miners by making knocking noises that led the miners to rich veins of coal. In the first workshop with the children we explored the myth of the Coblynau.
We re-enacted the myth by using blindfolds and various knocking implements so that the children could get a full sensory experience. Then the children took a step into developing their own mythical creatures using a drama activity called hot seating. In this exercise the children imagined themselves in the mind of their invented creature. The children showed real excitement and enthusiasm for the topic and came up with some very interesting features for their mythical creatures.
For the second workshop we explored mining’s more recent history and the introduction of modern machinery to the mines. The children were asked to create collaborative clay tiles which all slotted together to make one big piece of Art. Here the children showed real artistic flare, originality and skill. The tiles linked closely with our theme as they were all imprinted with marks from bits of old machinery; nuts, bolts, washers, screws and the like.
The final workshop was a collaboration between myself and artist Sarah Tombs. For this workshop we wanted the children to explore the sculptural qualities of machinery; focussing on the aesthetic rather than the function. During this workshop the children were given the opportunity to work with lots of different materials and ways of constructing. It was a great way for them to play with colour, texture and form. I was also really impressed with the problem solving and teamwork skills shown during this workshop.
It has been a fantastic project to have been a part in. It has been a pleasure to work with the Year 5 pupils from both schools, all the enthusiastic teaching staff and of course my fellow artists. I would also like to say a big thank the cleaning staff who have had to put up with a lot of mess and yet have been so friendly and helpful throughout!
