Torre Abbey Historic House and Gardens has been shortlisted to go to a public vote in order to secure a spectacular event as part of Connect! and the Museums at Night festival taking place from Thursday 27 to Saturday 29 October.

If enough votes are achieved Aowen Jin, an artist who makes images that glow under UV light, will undertake an event at the Abbey, the likes of which have never been seen in Torbay. The public vote will be open for two weeks from 11am on Friday 29 April and closes on Saturday 14 May.

Named as one “one of tomorrow’s great artists” by The Times, Jin will work with Torre Abbey and local artists to turn the south lawn’s Georgian facade into a giant shadow puppet show, with musicians and performers who will invite visitors of all ages to become part of the spectacle.

Torre Abbey will become a 3 dimensional canvas for Jin’s UV images which will be reflected through the house, gardens, glasshouse, floors, walls, windows and doorways.

Audiences will be invited to wear clothes painted with UV paint and during the night, visitors with UV torches will partake in an adventure through the darkened museum, finding unexpected images throughout the collection, on gilt frames and building walls and floors.

The images will dramatically represent important reflections for Torbay’s communities from Torre Abbey’s complex history including stories of prejudice and persecution, hospitality and reflection, and resistance and secrecy.

A UV searchlight will track across the gardens with children and adults playing in and out of the light in their UV clothes like dancing paintings.

Nathalie Palin, who is currently developing Torre Abbey's events and exhibitions programmes, said: “Torre Abbey wrote a proposal to contemporary artist Aowen Jin, for an event that we felt would be fun and inspiring for children, young people and families as well as for art lovers.

“It would be a wonderful opportunity for Torbay to work with such a renowned artist - to create an event the likes of which have never been seen at Torre Abbey or anywhere else in the Bay. We really don’t want to miss this coup and in order to make this happen we need residents to get behind us and vote.

“Torre Abbey’s events and activities programme is undertaking a real transformation. Entry is now free for under 18s and our intention is to make this wonderful house and gardens a hive of activity throughout the year for all ages and cultural tastes.”

For further information on how to vote go to Museums at Night website or visit the  Torre Abbey  Opens in a new window  website.

Notes to Editors
Connect! Is Museum at Night’s contemporary art strand and provides a chance for venues to work with a contemporary artist, perhaps for the first time; reach out to new audiences; and create a legacy that will last beyond the night of the event. The Connect project is a Culture24 project, find out more at www.culture24.org.uk

News archive

2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014