Once We Were Held

Once We were Held installation

/ sculpture / film / photography / scent / and breathing sound pillows

St Petrocs Church in Bodmin for FLAMM arts festival @flammcornwall

The piece is inspired by The Bethany Project a HIV/AIDS respite centre in Bodmin in the 90s which was run by the Sisters of Mercy Nuns and a team of dedicated local caring volunteers. People would come from across the country to Bodmin as it was the only place in the uk, to receive care and compassion as well as love and a community of friendships and support.

I first found out about the Bethany project while I was lead artist on KOMPAS an arts and heritage project with Queer Kernow and Decoder, which was funded by the arts council. It is while doing this that I felt the need to create a new work inspired by the Bethany project to highlight it.

After working on KOMPAS, I further developed ideas around the installation and it was amazing to get commissioned to bring the installation Once We Were Held to FLAMM and situate it in St Petrocs Church the heart of the community.

Co-commissioned by FLAMM and Counterpoints Arts

With additional support from Queer Kernow, DECODER, and Screen Cornwall, Creative Kernow and the immersive innovation programme.