After all is said and done, Trinity Ball is by far the biggest event of the year. People plan their outfits months in advance, and hours of work go into making it special. What’s interesting is how art has been added in recent years to play its own role in making Trinity Ball a unique night in the college calendar. I spoke with Rob Holton, this year’s Director of Art Installations, to find out about what’s involved in the process and to get a little peek into what attendees might expect to see.
Having art installations at Trinity Ball is still a novelty. This is only the second year that art has played a part in adding to the event’s festivities. After a few students were supposedly feeling that the ball “was lacking something”, it was Grace O’Boyle last year who established the practice of adding student artworks and decor to invigorate the ball’s aesthetic. The result was undoubtedly a success. Many still recall the full-size teepees dotted around Front Square and jellyfish everywhere, “something that has made a comeback this year! People love jellyfish!”, Holton tells me.
“The whole idea behind it was to get students involved and showcase really what they can do and making Trinity Ball more atmospheric”, he says. Having all the work coming from students is a personal touch that creates a strong sense of the atmosphere the students are seeking out. The chosen pieces will consist of a broad array of media. Sculpture and installation are of course the main focus, to ensure the works are as immersive as possible. There is so much creative talent and potential in our university, and after all, who knows better what we want than the students? Another point that’s worth noting is every artist that gets picked to have art on show gets a free ticket. So get sketching for next year!
Despite the deadlines, anticipation is building, and in the creative department things are gaining momentum. “Really exciting! Big scale stuff! We’re hoping to make a big impact this year and build on what a brilliant job Grace did last year!”, says Holton. It’s been long-known that this year’s theme is Space – what else could have more potential to set an awesome atmosphere? Of course, Holton didn’t want to ruin any surprises, but we did manage a little inside scoop. “I suppose I can give away one piece… I think it’s incredible! This is a taster of what we have”, says Holton. “There’s one piece and it’s called Space Seagull, so it’s gonna be a seagull in a spacesuit – and the placement of it is quite relevant, we’re gonna have them placed outside the Arts Block where the seagulls actually go, so that should be fun!” With 14 installations all placed in different locations around campus, there will be plenty to keep an eye out for.
“As for the rest of them, I’ll keep them under wraps until the actual night!”
