From Ashes is a touring participatory installation, and a tender collaborative act of repair and recovery.
Participants build a version of their city from paper, creating over 1000 tiny papercraft buildings by hand, each one reflecting the architecture of the city. Once built, the entire paper city is covered in ash, and for 2 days participants are invited to slowly brush the ash away from the city.
From Ashes is a meditative journey reflecting on the future of our cities in the shadow of a changing climate, global pandemics, nuclear threat and war.
The piece was co-produed by 21st Century Museum in Kanazawa (JP) and Forest Fringe (UK). It will be touring the UK in 2025-26.
A video of the the project with commentary is available to purchase from our shop.
Participants build a version of their city from paper, creating over 1000 tiny papercraft buildings by hand, each one reflecting the architecture of the city. Once built, the entire paper city is covered in ash, and for 2 days participants are invited to slowly brush the ash away from the city.
From Ashes is a meditative journey reflecting on the future of our cities in the shadow of a changing climate, global pandemics, nuclear threat and war.
The piece was co-produed by 21st Century Museum in Kanazawa (JP) and Forest Fringe (UK). It will be touring the UK in 2025-26.
A video of the the project with commentary is available to purchase from our shop.
To see From Ashes previous touring dates, see our Archive
Video
︎︎︎ Action Hero Shop
GALLERY
photos by Action Hero
Created and performed by Gemma Paintin and James Stenhouse
Additional model design in Kanzawa: Tomoyuki Koike
Carpentry and production in Kanazawa: Masahiro Saito
From Ashes was commissioned by the 21st Century Museum and Forest Fringe as part of the Museum x KNZ Fringe residency project. Special thanks to KAPO and Masahiro Saito.
Created and performed by Gemma Paintin and James Stenhouse
Additional model design in Kanzawa: Tomoyuki Koike
Carpentry and production in Kanazawa: Masahiro Saito
From Ashes was commissioned by the 21st Century Museum and Forest Fringe as part of the Museum x KNZ Fringe residency project. Special thanks to KAPO and Masahiro Saito.