Over the last few weeks the School of English has been eagerly anticipating the opening of the Marcel Duchamp ‘I am not dead festival‘ in Herne Bay.
In the summer 1913 artist and philosopher Marcel Duchamp spent a number of weeks in Herne Bay and it is the centenary of this important point in his development as an artist that is being celebrated in the two-week arts festival at the seaside resort. Over the last few years the town’s reputation as an artistic centre has been growing and the festival is being seen as a perfect opportunity to draw attention to this unique town and its artistic heritage.
The School of English has been keen to support the local festival over the last few months. Natalie Bradbeer, a student on the MA in Creative Writing, has been enjoying an intensive internship with the arts festival, which has offered unparalleled work experience opportunities in festival organization and management. The festival, which runs from 1st to 17th August, offers an astonishing array of events. The centrepiece of the festival will undoubtedly be the giant urinal which goes on display today (Friday 2nd August). The 12ft toilet (made from MDF) is a scale replica of Duchamp’s most famous work ‘The Fountain’, which was first exhibited in 1917, and has been recreated for the festival by Whitstable artist Phillip Long. Other events include a symposium on the work of Duchamp (which welcomes internationally renowned academics), workshops, talks, screenings and exhibitions. The festival offers students, academics, locals and visitors an excellent opportunity to delve deeper Kent’s artistic and cultural legacy. As Professor Peter Brown (Head of the School of English) commented, ‘the Duchamp Festival is a model of how to recognise and celebrate the astonishing cultural resources on our very doorsteps.’