Our picture of an aeroplane suggests modern travel, airport signage and Folkestone's place as
a cross-roads of road, rail, sea and air travel.
This is an invitation to 'come fly with me' and to use your imagination...
Folkestone is practically unique along Britain;s coast in offering a combination of port
and resort.
The town's position, relative to London and the Continent, is important. So too, was the
arrival of the railway during the 1840's. The resort development could never have
occurred without these crucial connections.
This combination made made Folkestone a relatively comfortable place for travellers,
holidaymakers and residents alike. Striking a balance between the coming, going and staying
has always been complex.
The feeling of the place is entirely defined by this tension. The connectedness and possibility
of our town combine with relative tranquility to suggest adventure. A romantic, and slightly faded
sensibility of comfortable displacement pervades this spot.
From the Leas, the world's busiest shipping lanes may be watched. The long adventure of global
trade is evident in the continuous stream of great container ships.
It is not surprising that many artists and writers have used Folkestone as a springboard for their imaginations.
HG Wells, Joseph Conrad, Agatha Christie and Noel Coward all made extraordinary journeys from this place,
without leaving! These flights of fancy continue....we're all at it.
ps. if you look carefully at our animation, you will notice that the aeroplane tail is just transforming into a fishtail!
NOTES:
Karen was hoping to make this image a reality by painting it onto the bare rooftop in Millbay.
Sadly this roof was deemed unsafe, so our 'sign' remains a flight of fantasy.
take a look at this interesting blog relating to airport signage too - click here
to check in to the Official Folkestone Triennial with its roster of proper artists - please click here
© Paul and Karen Rennie 2011