The festival included a number of specially commissioned new works by Dover-based artists. Scroll down to review all the artworks.

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I’m looking out for you

by Charles Holland Architects

During the course of the festival, Charles Holland Architects temporary lighthouse on Dover’s Clocktower Square formed a meeting point for events and a symbol of inclusivity and care. The installation was intended to recall a history of lighthouses in the town, starting with the two Roman Pharos which guided ships into the harbour, one of which still remains. The stepped profile and the pattern of windows were based on drawings of Roman structures whilst the colours recalled the flags and insignia of ships.

The title – I’m Looking Out For You – explored the ambiguous quality of lighthouses: a warning to avoid dangerous waters and a guide for safe passage and arrival. At this point in Dover’s history it feels more important than ever to offer a symbol of care and a generosity and a welcome to all.

As well as offering a meeting point for the festival programme, I’m Looking Out For You formed a backdrop for the Port of Dover’s own musical events on the harbour. Thanks to them for allowing us to install the lighthouse on such a historic site.

Photo by Tomas Poblete.

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Dover, September 2020

by Sophie von Hellermann
Curated by Nicolas Deshayes

During the lockdown of 2020, artist Sophie von Hellerman made a series of visits to Dover to paint the town and its surrounding landscape. On the invitation of Nic Deshayes, Sophie’s watercolours that depict a contemporary, everyday, but also otherworldly Dover, were exhibited together for the first time in Dover Museum.

Occupying the equally threshold-like space of the museum’s main stair and circulation area, Nic’s curation emphasises the paintings as a journey and a sequence of views.

Dover, September 2020 ran throughout the summer and for much of the duration of our arts festival, a reflection of the town and its setting through the eyes of a visiting artist.

Photo by Ute Schendel.

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Optical Illusion Murals

by Simon Bill

Over the course of the summer, Simon Bill has painted four murals in Dover. Each mural draws on optical theory and neuro-science to create patterns of movement and dynamism across the surface. The murals work through a power of suggestion, making the brain imagine things and the eye see things that aren’t actually there.

In this mural painted on the facade of a house on Tower Street, a radial pattern of spokes also suggests a blue circle hovering in front. A section of each spoke is painted blue and the eye//brain fills in the gap between them to complete a circle that is not in fact there. Beyond this, the mural is also an elegant and intriguing piece or decoration that appears to float across the facade of the house.

Simon’s other murals can be found at St Radigunds community centre, Tower Hamlets Scout Hut and the Ayecliffe underpass, each responding to their context in a unique way.

Photo by Tomas Poblete.

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Shocked into Presence

by Joanna Jones

‘Even a seasoned viewer of contemporary art, someone who reckons they’ve seen it all, will never have entered an exhibition in quite this way. The venue is unique.’ So begins Simon Bill’s essay on the ‘Shocked into Presence’ exhibition at the Citadel in Dover. The former prison canteen became a space for an exhibition of large contemporary paintings for the month of September as part of the Dover arts festival. 350 people came to the exhibition and scheduled events. Our thanks to David de Min, Kim de Min and Mike de Min at the Citadel and also Simon Bill for his essay – full essay here – and Nicolas Deshayes who curated the show and wrote this text.

Photograph by Ute Schendel.

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Look to the future, Dover

by Joseph Black & Mike Tedder

This mural was painted by Joseph Black and is based on the work of the late Dovorian artist Mike Tedder. Working closely with examples of his distinctive work, Joseph realised Mike’s ambition for a large-scale mural in the heart of Dover. The result is a moving tribute to Mike’s life and work and a beautiful new mural in its own right.

Look to the future, Dover is on the side of the Rhino and Bull building on Flying Horse Lane. It is most clearly viewed from Market Square but its bold silhouettes and exquisite colours are visible from many vantage points in the centre of the town.

Joseph was commissioned by DAD as part of our summer-long arts festival and we held a celebratory launch at Dave Robinson‘s Vinoteq wine bar for this important new work for Dover organised by artist Kate Beaugié – who also took this photograph. View a film of Joseph making the work by Tomas Poblete here

Thanks to Richard Sandilands for granting permission to use the building.

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Sunset Catwalk

by Samara Scott

A fabulous summer evening brought Dover out in force to take part in Sunset Catwalk, an interactive artwork, event and fashion show featuring local models wearing clothes made themselves. Conceived, curated and delivered by Samara Scott and Amy Gwatkin with a fantastic array of models, helpers and collaborators.

Photograph by Jack Symes.

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Dover Unlocked

by Anna Phoebe and Richard Bundy

Richard Bundy and Anna Phoebe have been unlocking, through sound, some of Dovers amazing and often little known spaces. These spaces are brimming with stories of conflict, resistance, pain and suffering, of individuals confronting fear and of camaraderie all part of our shared human story and intensified by Dovers geographical position as the closest point to mainland Europe. Richard and Anna have been meeting these spaces and allowing us, through music and text, to embrace our shared human story as it loosens and flows around and through us with their musical intervention. There have been two open performances of Dover Unlocked during the festival in the Grand Shaft and St Edmonds chapel as well as an evening of performance and conversation in Dover Museum.