In July 2017 Mandin embarked on a colourful journey into the woods in Leicestershire, UK. We were about to join the crew for building Noisily Festival of Music and Arts, something we had been waiting for for months! We set camp for more than a week on a field, with other passionate volunteers and cows as our neighbours.

Collaborating with Smallworld Urbanism, a Brixton based network of urban artists, craftists, designers and gardeners, our work contributed to what was to become Artopia.

We went on a hunt around the nearby town to scavenge discarded pallets and scrap wood. These we used to create a family of fruit-inspired benches.

Copy of Copy of Prototyping our mandarin bench.

Copy of Copy of Mandarin segment bench in the making.

Copy of Copy of Richee and Hook creating artwork on our double fruit slice bench, by rubbing linseed oil over a masking tape stencil.

Copy of Copy of Our third bench ‘the Watermelon’ sitting in the heart of Artopia, next to a large pan flute made from cardboard tubes.

Copy of Copy of Later the Watermelon was taken to the Brockwell Park Country Show in South London (image by of Ian Rogers).

Copy of Copy of Image by Agy (@agytheoddcloud)

Artopia was a creative playground for festival visitors at the festival’s Mind, Body and Soul area. There people could join workshops ranging from up-cycling and permaculture to graffiti and jamming. Or you could just chill on our benches and listen to the freely flowing hip-hop riddims of the And What? music crew.

After a week of hard work, the festival had come to life and people were starting to arrive from all corners of the UK and beyond. We were happy to see so many people enjoying the space. We want to thank Smallworld Urbanism and Noisily Festival for taking us on board! Until next time!