TAKE A TRIENNIAL TOUR

Head to the coast to find an art exhibition the county can truly boast about, as the nine-week Folkestone Triennial, which brings world class art to our shores, nears its mid point. By

If you’ve missed the iron men, creeping crabs and indoor forests of the Folkestone Triennial, don’t panic. The fourth edition of the ambitious art showcase is only halfway through.

Art is around every corner as world famous artists exhibit their specially commissioned works across the seaside town, from Antony Gormley’s Another Time metal sculptures to local artist Jonathan Wright’s gold fishermen’s boats leading to the harbour.

There are maps to guide you, but if you feel all at sea with the art, help is at hand. Organisers the Creative Foundation have a series of free tours which can help you find your way.

Open to families, adults and critics, an expert guide will take visitors on a lively and informal experience around the Double Edge-themed works. Among the sights to see are colourful houses by Richard Woods, highlighting the influx of second homes, in unlikely places and Lubaina Himid’s jelly mouldinspired Pavilion, evoking the connection between slavery and sugar. Curated by Lewis Biggs for the second time, they are dotted around the town. Studio Ben Allen’s The Clearing has transformed the Folkestone Quarterhouse into the Triennial Visitor Centre, inspired by a clearing in a forest, while heritage and creativity come together with David Shrigley’s Lamp Post (As Remembered) – head to The Leas to see it among the regular posts. Amalia Pica’s seashell creations are inside windows of local homes and on walls and sides of buildings. Michael Craig-martin’s composition Light Bulb, which metaphorically lights up the junction of the Old High Street and Tontine Street, is on the curve of the building façade and signifies ideas, energy, enlightenment, which represents the regeneration in Folkestone’s Creative Quarter.

Richard Woods’ colourful houses, left, can be seen across Folkestone, as can Amalia Pica’s seashell creations