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a factory of hope
a factory of hope
Hope & Ponies is new work exploring hope and resilience. It takes the form of an installation and film.
We've been exploring hope with people from across the UK, and making banners which give concrete form to their hopes, whether fleeting or longstanding, practically simple or entangled in political complexities. Join us to recharge your own store of hope, reflect, and contribute.
See it
See it
auawirleben, Bern (Switzerland): 6-17 May 2025
Hope is often slippery, evading our efforts to hold onto it, to retain it within ourselves. And hope is a fragile foundation to build upon. Unlike faith, it does not have a counterpart external to ourselves. It is related to (warning: pandemic buzzword…) resilience and determination, but hope lies beneath, feeding those. Hope is an acknowledgement of the uncertainty which pervades our lives, and of our ability to commit despite uncertainty (to a person, to a cause, to enduring seemingly unending suffering).
Recognising that hope can be fragile, and can be powered by resolute determination, we're sharing hopes through an installation which invites visitors to spend time with other people's hopes, to reflect and recharge, and to contribute their thoughts — which may become part of the growing installation.
The installation contains banners which give form to varied hopes. These have been contributed in conversations with the artists and on cards — often within the installation itself.
The number of banners in each installation can range in size, depending on the site; they may be accompanied by film featuring the play of light and water and land — and ponies — which contributes to a reflective space for visitors.
Often, the artists are there, making more of the banners, and inviting visitors to enjoy a cuppa, talk about their hopes and join in sewing sewing flags and banners which reflect those individual hopes.
All materials have had a previous life and are reused: people can bring their own or use ours. This labour, which takes up a small portion of the physical space but fills it with the sound of hopeful industry, activates a work which is constantly alive and changing. Their contributions become part of a growing installation which billows through (and sometimes beyond) the building in which it sits.
Hope & Ponies was made in collaboration with Ukrainian artist Nadia Sokolenko. Recognising that hope fuels us all, but often needs fuel, we're focused on building hope and making it visible. A film, featuring reflections from the artists (including Ukrainian Nadia Sokolenko’s perspective from a war zone) and a journey to visit the hardy ponies at the ‘edge of the world’ in northern Scotland’s Shetland islands is also part of the work.
A 3 minute film featuring Katherina Radeva, Alister Lownie and Nadia Sokolenko talking about the project
Hope & Ponies at The Clore Ballroom, Southbank Centre London,part of the Unlimited Festival September 2024
Initial concept development supported by Scottish Sculpture Workshop and Theatre in the Mill, Bradford
Development supported by Creative Scotland with BIRCA.
A location-based iteration of this project, Hope in Wakefield, is an Unlimited commission in partnership with The Art House and British Council. It will be seen across the Wakefield District as part of Our Year 2024.
History
History
6 July 2024 - Hope & Ponies Takeover in Tramway, Glasgow
10 July - 22 August - Pontefract Library Wakefield - see 12 banners with words by local people
1- 17 August - Upper Gallery, Tramway - in association with Govan Hill Baths Canival
8 September - Southbank Centre london, as part of the Unlimited Festival
12 September - 22 November - across Wakefield One, Horbury Library, Hemsworth Library in the Wakefield District
14 November - 24 March 2025 - Unlimited Headquarters, WX Wakefield - the 12 Wakefield banners re-united to celebrate Unlimited's new home.
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