Sculpture, circus performance and more coming to Ashton Court

A collaboration of outdoor art, heritage, nature and people will be showcased in the grounds of Ashton Court on Saturday.

An artistic partnership between Artspace Lifespace and We are From Dust will see four interactive sculpture installations exhibited in the grounds of the estate,  alongside unexpected performances.

Entry to the grounds will be free of charge and audiences will be able to wander as they please, experiencing poetry, performance and mystery events while sipping on takeaway cocktails from the cider cocktail bar.

The evening will even include circus performances surrounding the installations themselves.

Speaking about the event, ArtSpace Ashton Court curator, Yomi Ayeni, said: “Ashton Court is the perfect location to repurpose and exhibit large sculptural installations; some of which have only been seen overseas, for free right here in Bristol in the stunning setting of the mansion grounds.

“We are From Dust ArtSpace installations focus on reflection and play. We selected artworks that invite introspection and celebration of the human condition in a rapidly changing world. The works we have selected invite interaction.”

The 13th century mansion’s courtyard will display the Purr pod, known as Bristol Boo, who will light up and purr upon interaction. The accompanying circus act will be Roo, providing bubbles and contact juggling.

Bristol Boo / Courtesy of We Are Plaster

Other installations include:

• Freedom of Speech by Bristol’s Hugo Farmer on The South Lawn, a representation of activism and human rights, paired with stilt-walking from Shirley.
• Zlatìčo by CJay Roughgarden on The South Stair Tower, representing the challenges of the pandemic on human connectivity, featuring hula hooping from Kia.
• Transparenza by Andrea Greenlees in The Walled Garden, two transparent structures, one inside the other, exploring the concept of ‘Divina Proportione’, which will include contortion from Hannah.
• ‘We are from Dust’ poem by Edson Burton in The Formal Garden (by the Redwoods), which will be played on Andrew Batchelor’s custom-made motion-activated speaker.

Andrea will also be unveiling her new piece, Dodeca, in the rose garden, which explores life and metamorphosis.

Alongside all this, onlookers can experience a showcase from the Air Giants interactive LUMA sculpture (see main photo), although pre-booking is required for up-close interaction.

Music is to be provided by a selection of DJs, including a guest performance from producer and founder of Tone Def Records and We are From Dust, DJ YOMI AYENI.

ArtSpace LifeSpace is a charity that recycles vacant, under-used and problem properties into thriving creative resources, while We Are From Dust is a non-profit organisation dedicated to bringing the transformative power of interactive art to public spaces.

Slots for Air Giants Luma can be booked at www.headfirstbristol.co.uk.

Main photo by Paul Blakemore

Read more: Invisible Circus and others awarded BCC’s Imagination funding