Blind Landing
An artwork created at Orford Ness in 2013 by Jane and Louise Wilson and filmed by Ben Wigley. The title refers to the Experimental Unit that was operational during the cold war period. See the video here and read more about this project and another video here.
Stormbeach
A sound-work by Chris Watson, recorded on location Orford Ness in 2012 in response to the Stormbeach Chapter in Robert Macfarlane's "The Wild Places".
Appropriations
During August 2011 three circular objects on Orfordness were appropriated and declared to be Artworks by Hugh Pilkington. For nearly 100 years it has been thought that any object can become an art object if so declared by an artist and presented in an art context. In declaring these three elements on Orfordness, Hugh Pilkington transformed them for a month after which they reverted to their original state.
Cast away
Concerned about the amount of plastic in our oceans and washing up on our shores, Suffolk artist Fran Crowe created art from the rubbish washed up on the beach there. Helped by volunteers, Fran collected plastics on Orford Ness beach over a couple of months and created an installation from what she found.
Stone Eye
Martin Laurance, Heather Hodgson, Joan Hodes, Ali Hollingsworth, John Barker and Katharine Roney took inspiration from the wild and remote coastline. Locals themselves or those with strong connections to the Orford area, they each shared a fascination with ‘The Island’, as it is known locally. The group staged an exhibition of their work at the Peter Pears Gallery in Aldeburgh during November 2010.
The Island of Secrets
A
journey in sound with Paul Evans as in 2009 he explores the landscape of Orford Ness exposed to the waves and relentless wind.
Cobra Mist
Cobra Mist explored the relationship between landscape and traces of military history on the Ness, particularly the experiments in radar and the architecture of the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment. The film made in 2008 recorded the physical traces of the past using the photographic nature of 16mm film and time lapse to construct an impossible experience of the landscape and expose its history to the camera.
Pagoda project
The Pagoda Project was a time based artwork installed in an ex-atomic bomb environmental test building. The time-based installation consisted of a computer generated image sequence, projected in 'The Pagoda', Laboratory 4 of the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment site on Orford Ness. The event took place from 10-16 August 2008.
A record of fear
The sense of mystery and secrecy on the Ness, and the changing nature of the site, became the focus for Louise K Wilson in 2005. A choir performed in some of the remaining military buildings and these voices, along with other sound recordings from the Ness were manipulated to form audio works, which together with a video work were installed on site. An off site element was installed at the Wolsey Art Gallery.
Dennis Creffield
In the mid 1990s National Trust commissioned Dennis Creffield to paint Orford Ness as part of its Foundation for Art scheme. A series of paintings and drawings/sketches was produced, some of which are held in the National Trust's collections.
John Wonnacott
Before the National Trust purchased Orford Ness John Wonnacott had started painting the derelict landscape. Further work was commissioned from John and his painting of Military Remains on Orford Ness is held in the Trust's collections.
