UNKNOWN UNKNOWNS (2020) is a project bringing together patient ambassadors for Blood Cancer UK and stem cell researchers working at the Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre. Through a series of stop-motion animation workshops held via Zoom, participants developed hand-cut animation sequences exploring their experiences of ‘the unknown’ in relation to living with blood cancer, the challenges of research and the global uncertainties of Covid-19. Animation materials included paper, velvet and issues of National Geographic published in 1960, the year Blood Cancer UK officially became a charity.
Commissioned by the Wellcome - MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute as part of its Public Engagement programme, project outcomes include an animated film featuring participants’ stop-motion sequences (Futuramic Unknown, 2020) and an installation for the Jeffery Cheah Biomedical Center at Cambridge Biomedical Campus (The Night the Mountains Moved, 2020).
Perfect Day is a radio series of microdocumentaries about the joy of possibility. The concept for the programme unfolded from an interest in creating an opportunity for people to divulge a pleasurable fantasy to a complete stranger.
Co-commissioned by Cambridge Junction and Cambridge City Council for Hunt & Darton's 24-hour Radio Local, the series was made by knocking on doors of residents' homes and dropping into businesses, inviting people to talk about their idea of a ‘perfect day’. The resulting conversations were often intimate and surprisingly frank, revealing fantasies that range from simple and heartfelt to humorous and grand.
Perfect Day soundtrack composed by Will Heasman