Famous faces captured on digital mural by artist David Hodge
Sky Studios and The Birmingham Rep have commissioned a digital mural to celebrate and illuminate Parklife, this year’s Sky Comedy Rep festival which showcases new and emerging writing talent from around the UK.
Created by the West Midlands born artist David Hodge, aka Dusty O, the pop art style mural is a tribute to six comedy legends including Sir Lenny Henry, Dame Julie Walters, Frank Skinner, Meera Syal and Joe Lycett: all names and faces widely associated with comedy success and of course Birmingham.
The mural is revealed Monday, May 15 on Ocean Outdoor’s large format digital out of home screen located in Birmingham’s New Street opposite the Bull Ring Shopping Centre. The work then rolls out for a two-week period across Ocean’s city centre Loop network of screens.
David Hodge said: “It really is a thrill to be asked to create this tribute to so many famous names from the world of comedy in the city where my own creative journey began. Funnily enough where the billboard is situated only a few yards from where lots of us young clubbers, designers and creatives used to meet back in the ’80s on a Saturday in the tearoom in Rackham’s. Somehow it brings me home and makes my creative journey reach another landmark moment.”
The city of Birmingham has long sat central in the world of the arts and remains a thriving creative and cultural community, one which is supported by Ocean’s city centre screens.
The Sky Comedy Rep is a six-night festival hosted by The Birmingham Rep from May 22. This year it shows the work of eight new and emerging comedy writing talents from around the UK and who have been mentored by famous names from the world of comedy writing and performance. They include Birmingham’s Asia Wray who will see her original play ‘Bruk Pocket Girl’ performed at The Rep.