[RECENT PROJECT – ‘NEXT BIG THING’ LONDON LIVE]
Elyssa Sykes-Smith was recently selected as a winner in the sculpture category and created work for the ‘Next Big Thing’, a dynamic, formatted six-part TV series with elements of documentary, art history, jeopardy, competition, celebrity and style. Shot mainly on location, it captures the creative day to day life of our 11 chosen finalists, and follows as they create a piece of original work reflecting ‘The Spirit of London’. We observe their inspirations, hear their aspirations – and watch them grow under the guidance of top artist mentors. Everything leads up to the exhibition week, the big reveal of all finished works, then opened to a global auction of buyers and collectors. In case you missed the six-part TV series don’t worry! Episodes 1-6 can be found online: https://www.nextbigthing.live/episodes
‘Spirit of London’ Artwork
Reclaimed Chaos is a sculptural installation created from reclaimed wood from London construction sites that would otherwise have been discarded. The artwork presents London embodied as a protagonist within the global narrative of the climate crisis. Climate psychology is a new way of understanding our collective paralysis in the face of worsening climate change. London, an urban space defined by a dynamic energy, an interconnected and ever-changing construction, has come to a standstill like a held breath. Reclaimed Chaos offers a paused moment of reflection within a haze of uncertainty, an opportunity to observe our relationship with and as nature. Thank-you to the amazing NBT team: Director Sam Hockley, Production manager Rachel Street, Presenter James Nicholls, my mentor Ian Edwards, and my assistant Sara Aly. Photography of artwork by Harry Skeggs.
