Hales Gallery is delighted to announce the selection of Rachael Champion for the Hippodrome 120 sculpture commission, for the Birmingham Hippodrome in conjunction with Pangaea Sculptor’s Centre.
Rachael Champion’s work primarily manifests as site-specific installations and architectural sculptures that respond to places and their histories through contextually relevant forms and materials. For the special one-off commission, Champion will suspend organic forms adorned with architectural imagery to highlight the fascinating textures of the city of Birmingham and to reference the theatre’s many architectural and facade transformations over its lifetime.
“It is an honour to have been selected for the Hippodrome 120 Commission. The context is particularly special as I have been working in technical theatre to support my sculpture practice for many years. I am so excited to get to know Birmingham and its architecture to realise ‘Tower of Varieties’” said Rachael of the award.
The final sculpture will be unveiled in October, as part of the month long celebrations for the Hippodrome’s 120th birthday.
Rachael will be reaching out to the people of Birmingham on social media to make suggestions of the buildings and architecture of the City that resonate with them to be considered for inclusion. Follow @brumhippodrome and @pangaeacentre to share your favourite.
The sculpture commission is part of our wider visual arts programme. From September, a new ‘Hidden Stories’ season of exhibitions will launch, with highlights including ‘Pre-Windrush to the Present Day: A History of Black Performance on Stage at Birmingham Hippodrome’ in collaboration with Blackstory Partnership.
Rachael Champion
The Hippodrome 120 Sculpture Commission
Hurst Street, Southside
Birmingham, B5 4TB
25 October 2019
