Hibernator

Themes of natural animal hibernation, the cryonics movement, and the urban myth surrounding the death of Walt Disney embody the contradictory narratives of Disney's morality tales set in the natural environment and his vision of the 'machine in the garden'.

London Fieldworks created a working animation studio in Beaconsfield's upper gallery to create a series of animations by utilising a range of video animation techniques, soundtrack, narrative, prosthetics and solar activated animatronics.

Hibernator installation view, Beaconsfield Gallery.
Photo by Kristian Buus.

Hibernator was inspired by the seminal eco-novel, "Bambi: A life in the woods" by Felix Salten, and Robert Ettinger's "Prospect of Immortality". The animation was presented as a series of weekly episodes as it developed over a 7 week period in collaboration with the writer Steve Beard, composer Dugal McKinnon and Paul and Laura Carey from Special Art Effects. Supported by Arts Council England, The Henry Moore Foundation, AHRC and London South Bank University.

Animation stills courtesy London Fieldworks︎︎︎
Animation courtesy London Fieldworks︎︎︎

(02:31) Hibernator (episode 4 of 9)
BARDO TWO:TRAVELS ON THE AFTER-DEATH PLANE
Video & animation: London Fieldworks / text: Steve Beard / soundtrack: Dugal McKinnon / narration: Peter Blegvad