Meet the artist behind the Scottish Curling Championship’s stunning ice art
- Text by Huck HQ
If you happened to tune in to this year’s Scottish Curling Championship between 4 – 10 February, you’ll have been greeted with a rather wondrous sight. To promote its sponsorship of Scottish Curling’s showpiece event, Hendrick’s Gin commissioned a local artist to bring the usually unadorned playing surface to life with a burst of colour and flavour.
Inspired by the rich plant life found in the greenhouses at the Hendrick’s Gin Palace, the atmospheric coastal landscape that surrounds it, and the rich heritage of the sport of curling itself, Glasgow-based artist and illustrator Orla Stevens created a series of spectacular abstract designs in her home studio, which were frozen under the ice for the duration of the championships.
Curling stones are traditionally made of granite harvested from Ailsa Craig, a legendary volcanic outcrop that sits just off the mainland – a stone’s throw away from the Hendrick’s Gin Palace. This local connection formed a key part of the narrative that Orla weaved into her artwork, together with her own passion for nature and the outdoors.
She explains: “Nature and the outdoors are a big part of my life; they go hand in hand with my creative process. For this project, I was able to reference a lot of nature imagery from the research trip that we had, drawing from the landscape, and then also drawing from the plant life in the Hendrick’s greenhouses.”
Watch the short film below to learn more about Orla’s creative process, which is as refreshingly curious as Hendrick’s Gin & Tonic served with a slice of cucumber. You’ll also discover how she took inspiration from meeting both Lesley Gracie, Master Distiller at Hendrick’s, and Scottish Olympic Curler Scott Andrews.
Try a refreshing Hendrick’s & Tonic garnished with a slice of cucumber. To find out more visit hendricksgin.com
You might like
Sepia splashed memories of Britain’s ’90s squatting and free party scene
Bygones — Moving into a Hackney squat at the age of 19, Tom Hunter spent years living on London’s edges, while documenting the vibrant, creative community and culture that it enabled. Huck’s art director Sam White chats to him about the freedom that existed, the collectivism and what’s been lost over the decades since.
Written by: Samuel White
A melancholic portrait of youth, rebellion and womanhood in Iran
And They Laughed At Me — Newsha Tavakolian has worked as a photographer all her adult life, as Iran underwent change, upheaval and conflict. Her new photobook explores the formative years of her eye and art amid generational strife, hope and disappointment.
Written by: Miss Rosen
The real life mermaids of Florida’s Weeki Wachee Springs
Old Florida — A relic of pre-Disney tourism in the state, the show – which sees women perform athletic underwater tricks in a natural spring – has been running since 1947. Jack Burke attends, while reflecting on the fragility and fantasy of old America.
Written by: Jack Burke
The intricate, clandestine art of Japan’s traditional tattoos
Irezumi — Having emerged during the Edo Period centuries ago, inking skin has long been associated the country’s working class, and particularly Yakuza. A new book by Manami Okazaki explores the history and deep meaning of the practice, as well as the horishi who dedicate their lives to the needle.
Written by: Isaac Muk
Road tripping across 1970s America
73 Trip West — In 1973, Larry Racioppo set out from Brooklyn to California, armed with a medium format camera. For the first time in over half a century, roadside photographs from his trip have been unearthed.
Written by: Miss Rosen
New exhibition spotlights the ongoing impact of Japanese Women Photographers
1950s to Now — Taking place at The Photographers’ Gallery in London, it showcases work by 27 artists from the past seven decades including Mikiko Hara, Yurie Nagashima and Mao Ishikawa.
Written by: Isaac Muk
