RISE UP RESIDENCY Art Trail - iK ’ s top picks ...
KENTSTAYCATION
On The Mural Trail cont ...
Aaron Li-Hill Dreph Lily Mixe
RISE UP RESIDENCY Art Trail - iK ’ s top picks ...
© Ian Cox
RISE UP RESIDENCY was originally a week-long educational mural project that took place in September 2022 in Margate . Spearheaded by the town ’ s RISE UP . CLEAN UP . initiative and Margate-based , internationally acclaimed artist Louis Masai , the residency welcomed 17 local and international artists to stay in Margate and create public art as a means of raising awareness of ocean conservation . The murals have since remained in the town as an educational backdrop , but have become a Kentish cultural must-do in their own right .
Itinerary 2 : Folkestone and Ashford
Day 1 : Folkestone
Folkestone has the largest number of outdoor artworks in the UK , with a constantly changing series of works that can pop up in unexpected places . All of the works are accessible 365 days a year , in any weather .
• Morning : Start your day with a hearty breakfast at Marleys , a cosy café known for its weekend brunches and locally sourced menu . Breakfast is walk-in so get there early to avoid disappointment . @ marleysfolkestone
• Late Morning : Explore the vibrant Creative Quarter in Folkestone , starting around Quarterhouse where you ’ ll find numerous street art installations , creative spaces and galleries ; follow the artwork down to the harbour . @ creativefstone
• Lunch : Head to Rocksalt for a responsibly sourced seafood lunch with stunning views of Folkestone Harbour from the sun-drenched terrace . @ rocksaltfolkestone
• Afternoon : Take a stroll along the Folkestone Harbour Arm and enjoy the coastal scenery . There are several installations to appreciate along the harbour arm as part of the Folkestone Art Trail which you can follow towards the Leas Cliff Hall and Folkestone Beach . @ folkestoneharbour
• Evening : Dine at The Radnor Arms , a gastropub serving locally sourced dishes . @ radnorarmsfolkestone
• Accommodation : Stay at Boys Hall in Ashford for a comfortable overnight stay in a beautifully refurbished 17th-century country house , where you can also enjoy cocktails . @ boys . hall
creativefolkestone . org . uk / folkestoneartworks / maps-and-routes
Aaron Li-Hill , 33 Rancorn , West Cliff Road Aaron Li-Hill is a Canadian-American visual artist based in London who employs painting , illustration , stencilling , and sculptural elements within his art , pointing to the devastating effects of capitalist culture on the ecosystems of this planet and the individual psyche . The plastic that enters the oceans and waterways ultimately ends up inside our bodies , with statistics showing that we now consume a credit card ’ s worth of plastic every week ; Aaron ’ s captivating mural highlights human entanglement and the subsequent process of environmental degradation that we must attempt to rise out of .
Lily Mixe , Drapers Windmill , St Peter ’ s Footpath Lily Mixe is a French artist currently living and working in the UK . She perceives the natural world as ‘ aliens from our own planet ’, in particular focusing on overlooked species , glorifying their forms , patterns and structures , and attempting to capture their majesty .
Her mural captures a micro-species that is seldom seen in person , highlighting how strikingly beautiful coral polyps truly are . Layered onto a brightly coloured camouflage background , the painting creates a juxtaposition with the corals and elevates a notion of being hidden and unknown in plain sight .
Dreph , 22 Danesmead Terrace Artist and lecturer Neequaye Dreph Dsane , or Dreph , is inspired as much by 80 ’ s British sci-fi comics and New York subway art as he is the old masters . After three decades of street-based painting , Dreph ’ s work can now be found all over the world . Addressing our carbon footprints today is vital to undo the unnecessary responsibilities that we are currently leaving for those in future generations ; Dreph ’ s mural captures two local Thanet children playing with sandcastles on the beach , water rising all around the castle , and asks whether it is fair to leave this scenario for the young to deal with . www . insidekent . co . uk • 97