The sculptures will be released as a limited edition of 50 in assorted, hand-painted colours with ten special editions, which will have Swarovski Crystals added by Dan and Maxim. “We are in times of uncertainty, but I believe the answer to our problems is the four letter word, ‘love’.” And it was really special to have a cameo, playing somebody who was homeless and was also an angel. Maxim adds: “Making this has been exciting. “Lockdown gave us that opportunity and we wanted the project to deal with this difficult year, while demonstrating the positive message about the role hope now plays.” The music will then be released to the public three months later, via digital outlets like Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon on the Red Room Arts label.ĭan explains: “We’ve known each other for a few years as we both exhibited art at the same galleries and attended each other's exhibitions, so we always chatted about doing a collaboration. The soundtrack to the film is also titled ‘Hope’ and will be released along with three other tracks on a Hope EP, on bespoke memory cards inside the sculptures, exclusively for buyers of the sculptures on 20 May. It closes with a strong message of kindness, giving and the ‘hope’ that it is named after, showing the little boy in a gas mask about to pull the grenade pin - mirroring the sculpture itself. It also references the pandemic’s impact on homelessness - with a moving cameo from Maxim, playing a person living on the streets - as well as austerity, with touching food bank scenes. Their short film touches on the mental health implications the virus has had on children, showing Pearce’s 11-year-old son, Jackson living through the pandemic. The pieces demonstrate Dan’s skills in 3D modelling and Maxim’s experience floating objects in resin. The grenade is a recurring symbol and theme in Maxim’s art, which includes highly sought-after paintings, prints and sculptures created during his 18 years in the art world. On May 20, the pair will release an edition of 50 sculptures created together, depicting a little boy - based on Pearce’s son - wearing a gas mask and preparing to pull the pin on a clear, resin grenade, containing a heart, which represents the vaccine and the hope that will help us navigate our post-lockdown worlds. They will be donating one sculpture to NHS Charities Together, one to young people’s mental health charity, YoungMinds and one to homeless charity Shelter, to raise funds for those most affected by the outbreak - themes which are explored in their moving film. The acclaimed artists spent a year over lockdown creating the ambitious, multi-platform collaboration, which is inspired by the “Hope” that everybody is clinging onto, as we gradually ease out of the devastation wreaked by Coronavirus. The project will launch with a VIP private view at London’s new 99 Projects gallery on 19 May, and the Hope exhibition be available for public view until 7 June. The project follows on from a mural of Joy Division’s Ian Curtis which we unveiled in Manchester to coincide with World Mental Health Day 2020.Ī crowdfunder was set up to fund the mural, with a target of £12,500 needed to be pledged by August 31.Ĭheck the crowdfunding page and help raise the funds needed to complete the work. The artwork will feature both the charity’s logo and number. The mural is due to be completed in time for World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September, and is being created to raise awareness of mental health text support service / charity – Shout 85258. The new artwork will be in Beechwood Road in Dalston – a short walk away from the site of the old Four Aces club where The Prodigy played their first gig.įounder of Headstock Atheer Al-Salim said: "Keith Flint was one of the most innovative and influential music artists of his generation but, like many of us, he struggled with his mental health and tragically took his own life." Manchester artist Akse P19 is working with music and mental wellbeing festival Headstock to pay homage to the Firestarter vocalist, and raise awareness for mental health support services. Crowdfunder for Keith Flint mural to raise mental health awarenessĪ street artist who has painted murals of Marcus Rashford, Sir Captain Tom Moore and David Bowie, has set his sights on a wall in Hackney, to pay tribute to The Prodigy frontman Keith Flint.