Bushmills

20 August 2012 - 04 November 2012

FLAGS by Hans Peter Kuhn, a London 2012 Festival event, was an installation embedded in the dramatic landscape of the Giant's Causeway, creating a new visitor experience, drawing on the natural power of the elements. A series of flags randomly positioned along the banks of the cliff face rotated freely in the wind, creating a flickering pattern of yellow and red set against the backdrop of this spectacular landscape.

What was Flags?

FLAGS was a co-commissioned project by London 2012 Festival and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board’s ni 2012 campaign. It was presented by The Third Space Gallery who are located in Belfast.

The installation involved the erection of around 140 hard board flags at Port Noffer, Giant’s Causeway.

The flags were placed randomly between the shoreline and the cliff top and were coloured red on one side and yellow on the other. The flags moved in the wind giving visitors a different perception of the Causeway. At every location different thoughts and feelings were evoked depending on how the flags were sitting, light levels and weather.

How was FLAGS installed?

A specialist team of technicians along with Hans Peter Kuhn, the artist, and his engineer installed FLAGS.

A series of holes were dug out, which was approved by NIEA and the National Trust, to allow for a specially fabricated unit to be positioned into each of the 140 holes and a flag pole attached securely. Now the project is finished the units were removed and the holes covered again with the natural soil of the site. This whole process was carried our in close collaboration with the National Trust.

How did we ensure that no damage was caused to the site during and post the installation process?

Hans Peter Kuhn (artist) and Third Space worked closely with the National Trust to ensure that every environmental issue has been given full consideration and that necessary actions have been applied throughout the project.

Who is the artist?

The artist is Hans Peter Kuhn. He was born in Kiel (Germany), he lives and works in Berlin. Hans Peter’s earliest artistic role was as a composer for the theatre and for dance, expanding into the creation of sound works for an art context and then into large-scale sound and light productions for public spaces, he continues to work in – and is justly celebrated for his contribution to – all of these areas. His method tends to the incisive and minimal, elegant rather than elaborate.

Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk

See all events