Futuristic public art project opens in Kings Lynn today

Intergalactic Hanseatic League depicts a world where climate change has been averted thanks to 21st Century Kings Lynn

Kings Lynn's Corn Exchange bathed in futuristic projections
Author: Tom ClabonPublished 1st Oct 2021
Last updated 1st Oct 2021

A science-fiction, time-travel experience has opened in in King’s Lynn town centre today.

Intergalactic Hanseatic League depicts a futuristic world where climate change has been averted thanks to 21st Century Kings Lynn.

It's a project that can be watched at Majestic and Corn Exchange cinemas or visited, after dark, at Kings Lynn's Minister or Custom House.

It's free, runs through to October 17th and features Game of Thrones’ Kate Dickie.

Gavin Toomey, the Director of the project told us that this will feature artwork from 570 children from Kings Lynn.

Their work will be projected onto Kings Lynn's Corn exchange, as well as the Vancouver quarter on Kings Lynn high-street.

He said the young artists came up have a look at their work before the first night and told us that it was "wonderful to see them really proud".

Mr Toomey went on to say that changing the negative mindset around climate change is central to the project:

"It does feel that our destiny is to suffer due to climate change, but we've got to have hope. If we don't have hope, what's the point and this is all about hope. It's all about engaging with the community and especially young people to make them realise that they can make a difference".

"We've turned Grey Friars into a retro video-game and the idea is to send messages a hope from the children to the IHL Discovery. So we're trying to get that balance between playfulness, engagement and serious issues- and hope is a serious issue".

"There was seven year old that started to talk to me about microplastics and how they disrupt nature and are devastating the sea. To think that you're engaging with people on that level, well this is what this project is all about. It's incredibly satisfying that its helping people to learn more about climate change."

Mr Toomey concluded by saying that Kings Lynn has been a fantastic place to host the project:

"People are listening and being really receptive. You can capture people's imagination and as a film maker, that's exactly what you want".

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