Message In A Bottle Exhibition
Stars were out in force at the preview of the Bell’s ‘Message In A Bottle’ exhibition to celebrate £1 million pounds raised by Bell’s for Help for Heroes.
The sensory installation, unveiled ahead of Armed Forces Day (28 June) honoured the strength of character of those who serve our Nation, bringing to life the stories of over 40 former servicemen and women who have rebuilt their lives after injury.
Boxing legend Carl Froch celebrated his recent engagement to fiancé Rachel Cordingley, whilst Jonathan Ross supped on Bell’s whisky cocktails with close friend, Nick Moran, as they chatted to former British Army soldier, Simon Brown, about his road to recovery.
Inspired by the installation, BAFTA-winning Adam Deacon spent time perusing the ‘Circle Of Stories’ – a metal and glass structure inside the exhibition which hosted 40 individual scrolls, each telling the experiences of the heroes and their families. Konnie Huq and Rick Edwards explored the ‘Chamber’ a structure bathed in reflective light from 600 glass surfaces and incorporated a heated pool of whisky, which filled the room with gentle malted barley aromas.
Other famous faces included Jade Parfitt and Olivia Inge, who enjoyed Bell’s ‘Afore Ye Go’ cocktails, a service specially created for the event, while Giles Deacon tried his hand at spinning the decks. Guests enjoyed a selection of ‘best of British’ canapés, including roast beef and mini Yorkshire puddings, Cumberland sausages with a Bell’s whisky infused ketchup and chocolate whisky lollipops.
BELL’S CELEBRATES THE NATION’S REAL HEROES Bell’s launches ‘Message In A Bottle’ – an exhibition to honour the strength of character shown by our Armed Forces veterans
Ahead of Armed Forces Day (28 June), the makers of Bell’s whisky launched ‘Message In A Bottle’, a contemporary art exhibition, at Display Gallery, Holborn.
Celebrating its partnership with Forces’ charity, Help for Heroes, which has raised £1m, the installation honours the strength of character shown by those who have served our Nation. Using an array of sensory cues, the exhibition uniquely recounts the inspirational tales and humbling experiences of Armed Forces’ veterans and people pivotal to their recovery.
Conceived by the widely exhibited installation artist, Sebastian Kite, in partnership with creative studio Jotta, the sensorial exhibition brings to life the stories of over 45 former servicemen and women, their families and supporters. Bathed in reflective light from 600 glass surfaces, a central beacon of light is suspended from the steel structure above a pool of whisky, which is heated to gently fill the room with gentle malted barley aromas. The installation speaks to all of the senses; an immersive soundscape using narration and abstract sounds to bring the veterans’ stories to life.
Commenting on the installation, Kite explained: “Message In A Bottle has been an inspiring project to work on. After immersing ourselves in the veterans’ experiences, we wanted to honour the individuals through the materials and mediums used in the artwork to communicate the journey of recovery. The reflective and restorative properties of light incorporated into cyclical structures represent the regenerative and positive outlook expressed through each tale.”
