Huge inflatable cartoon-like sculptures created by a viral TikTok artist are among the attractions at this year's SPILL Festival.
Mega Bunny, Egg Cat and Octopus appeared at the Cornhill and Buttermarket Centre on Friday, October 13 as the festival officially launched.
The event, which takes place between October 13 and 29, will host a number of indoor and outdoor art experiences, including plenty of free and family-friendly creative activities.
This year is the first festival to have been programmed by Robin Deacon as artistic director since his move from Chicago for this appointment.
He has commissioned three pieces of spectacular outdoors and large-scale art that will be free for residents to enjoy.
The artist standing behind the colossal Mega Bunny and his friends is Bruce Asbestos.
He frequently mixes everyday objects with high art, fashion, social media, video games, and global pop culture.
With the artist attracting more than six million views on TikTok and 1.5 million views on YouTube, his new sculptures, Mega Bunny, Egg Cat, and Octopus, look set to get everyone talking.
Drawing inspiration from the global fascination with Blue Zones, areas in the world where people live longest, Asbestos wants Mega Bunny and his friends to highlight the rewards of supportive friendships and the benefits of cultivating peace of mind with a positive outlook.
Did you ask yourself why the giant purple octopus is unhappy? Can you cheer them up with a smile, a cheery wave, or your funniest joke? Is the four-metre-high Mega Bunny hungry? Will they steal your chips or your heart?
Mr Asbestos said: “The work is inspired by the idea that great friendships and community can extend life.
“This is scientifically supported. I wanted to make a monument to friendship and create a fun meeting point for the people of Ipswich during SPILL festival.”
Robin Deacon, the artistic director of SPILL Festival, added: “SPILL Festival is delighted to be welcoming Mega Bunny and Friends to Ipswich.
“One of the joys of working with SPILL artists such as Bruce Asbestos has been receiving all the wonderful mock ups of their art in my inbox.”
Look out for more sculptures by Bruce Asbestos popping up in the Buttermarket Shopping Centre, you might come across Rest a giant 12m yellow worm, and Eye of Newt a community of giant green eyes.
The artist will lead a guided tour on Saturday, October 14, starting at 12pm. Tickets for the tour can be booked on the official SPILL Festival website.
SPILL Festival will also feature other art experiences, located often in very unconventional locations.
One of the commissions will be the Shefarers of Ipswich, created by the international arts and activism collective Secret Agency, which will reexamine local Suffolk heritage and explore the untold stories of women in the maritime industry.
Local children can take part in the festival in Andy Field and Becki Darlington’s News News News, with young people from St Matthew’s Primary School reporting on Ipswich as they see it in a live TV news broadcast.
SPILL Festival’s collaboration with DanceEast will enable exciting fresh voices to be heard too, in performances from Alethia Antonia and Maritea Daehlin that encompass dance, sound art and the visual arts, both at the Jerwood DanceHouse.
The festival has also teamed up with Brighten the Corners so audiences can enjoy The Utopia Strong, a band of psychedelic music improvisers who will headline our second Saturday evening music programme.
This year’s SPILL Festival Hub is at the newly refurbished St Stephen’s Church.
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