UNITED KINGDOM: Flipping fun on giant inflatable artwork in the shape of Stonehenge for the London 2012 festival

Record ID: 863448

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: Flipping fun on giant inflatable artwork in the shape of Stonehenge for the London 2012 festival
  • Date: 21st July 2012
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JULY 21, 2012) (REUTERS) ART PIECE "SACRILEGE" SEEN IN THE DISTANCE WIDE OF "SACRILEGE" WITH SIGNAGE IN FRONT OF IT
  • Embargoed: 5th August 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVACW13OL1U7LHCFHSOCATXTNN6V
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: A bizarre but fun life-size replica of Stonehenge called "Sacrilege" helped kick off the London 2012 Festival, a cultural celebration across Britain to coincide with the Olympics, on Saturday (July 21).
    Part artwork, part bouncy castle, Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller unveiled the piece in Greenwich, close to the newly-built Olympic stadium, in east London.
    Babies, children and adults took turns jumping on the artwork, alongside the young members of the Camden Gymnastics squad who somersaulted, vaulted and flipped on the apparatus.
    Deller, who's work focuses on history, says not all art has to be serious.
    "It came very quickly, it was one of those things that you just think maybe it could be like this, it could be fun and enjoyable and a bit silly. I think it's good for things to be silly sometimes," Deller told Reuters Television.
    The young gymnasts had their hopes for joining team GB for the next Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. When asked what he thought about his art piece possibly training the next generation of British Olympians, Deller said:
    "It's a really good workout. You're exhausted afterwards and your body aches. So there's a healthy thing going on which I didn't even think about at the time but I like the idea of it. Kids can go on it and learn stuff and do things. I think that's fine."
    "Sacrilege" will "pop up" in 14 locations around London during the Olympics including Paddington Recreation Ground in Westminster, Clapham Common in Lambeth and Hampstead Heath in Camden. It will then go on a tour in the United Kingdom.
    The London 2012 festival, which runs from June 21-September 9, is the culmination of the four-year Cultural Olympiad, and organisers said on Tuesday there would be ten million free tickets for people to experience dance, theatre, art, music and more.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register