Dead Shrines

A camera obscura sculpture in Stirchley Park.

September 2018 - 9 months

Dead Shrines is an ongoing project by artist duo Hipkiss and Graney, constructing large wooden sculptures in public spaces as a focus for community-focussed events.

I was heavily involved in designing the Dead Shrine for Stirchley Park and ran two events in the subsequent programme, a camera obscura making workshop and a talk on the history of the camera obscura and why it might be relevant today.

The following images document the design, build and events I took part in. The Kickstarter video shows my working with Jonny and Dale before the build began. A documentary film by Hipkiss and Graney will be released soon, at which point I’ll try to write in more detail about what we did and how. And maybe why.

Sketch by Jonny Graney of how the camera obscura works.

The Stirchley Dead Shrine. The small hole at the front houses the lens.

Jonny Graney looks through the viewing port at the back of the Dead Shrine.

I give my talk on the history and contemporary relevance of the camera obscura in Stirchley Park as part of a series of symposiums.

Conceptual sketch by Jonny Graney prior to the build.

Design of the Dead Shrine in situ.

Conceptual sketch by Jonny Graney prior to the build.

Conceptual sketch by Jonny Graney prior to the build.

Contructing the Dead Shrine with Dale Hipkiss and Daniel Salisbury

Me inside the build of the Dead Shrine with the lens hole before the lid went on.

The camera obscura lens.

On the roof with the projection screen visible.

Dale Hipkiss fixing the projection screen inside the Dead Shrine.

Looking through the viewing port at the back of the Dead Shrine.

Participant at the camera obscura workshop wearing their camera.

Participant at the camera obscura workshop showing off their camera.

The Dead Shrine in situ.