Welcome to Liverpool’s Revisiting the Giants!

This current project revisits the Liverpool Giants who are marionettes created by French theatre company Royal de Luxe in 2012. They hosted three public shows within Liverpool during the years of 2012, 2014 and 2018 and each year consisted of another Giant added to the show. This project explores the positive impacts it had on Liverpool, particularly how it brought the city together and engaged a wide audience. As part of a transdisciplinary initiative, I aim to analyse not only the cultural significance of the Giants but also how they broke down geographical borders around Liverpool. This will be done by engaging with local stakeholders such as Liverpool City Council, Culture Liverpool, and the Head of Art in Liverpool. I seek to explore the question; What is next for Liverpool? and how can we continue the legacy of the Giants and further integrate the city’s cultural identity with its geographical future.

Revisiting the Giants is not just about looking back on the past but about creating a pathway forward that honours the Giants’ impact while considering the ecological challenges and cultural opportunities that lie ahead for Liverpool and the people.

About Me:

I am Emily Edwards an artist from Liverpool with a strong passion for community driven projects and a focus on how art can foster dialogue and social change. Through my paintings, I aim to connect diverse fields of work, such as: art, ecology, urban planning and culture. This is achieved through creating paintings at different scales on various materials and I argue that creating such artwork will engage and inspire. I have a deep connection to Liverpool, which informs my desire to contribute to the city’s ongoing cultural evolution while addressing geographical sustainability.

Collaborators:

This project will involve collaborations with key figures within Liverpool and the local cultural and artistic communities.

Art in Liverpool:

Through collaboration with Patrick from Art in Liverpool, I aim for this project to connect with broader artistic landscapes in the city that facilitates the making of public art. Discussing how art can be used as a tool to continue breaking down ecological borders and boundaries.

Steven Discipline:

In partnership with local graphic designer and lecturer Steven Discipline we will create a series of promotional merchandise and keepsakes featuring my own artwork. The items will serve as a tangible representation of the Giants legacy with a combination of my visual art with Discipline’s design tools to create an ongoing conversation about Liverpool’s future.

Liverpool City Council:

I will work closely with local government representatives to ensure that the project is integrated into larger urban and ecological plans for the city’s future.

Culture Liverpool:

Working with Claire McColgan the Director of Culture, Major Events & Tourism for the City of Liverpool. I will engage in discussions about the future cultural initiatives in Liverpool and how can we continue to build on the legacy of the Giants, ensuring that the project considers both ecological and social impact.

 

Key Aims and Objectives:

Cultural Continuity:

Explore how Liverpool can continue the legacy of the Liverpool Giants through new cultural initiatives that keep the city’s creative spirit alive

Geographical Awareness:

Address the ecological borders surrounding Liverpool, analysing how public art and cultural events like the Giants can help integrate urban and ecological spaces.

Community Engagement:

Facilitate discussions with key stakeholders to generate new ideas for future cultural events that continue to connect the people of Liverpool with both their city and environment.

Art as a Mechanism for Change:

Use my paintings on merchandise and public art to provoke thought, raise awareness, and promote sustainable practices within the local community.

Collaborative Innovation:

Foster a transdisciplinary project through collaboration between artists, local governments, and community groups to create lasting social and environmental change.