Jo Chapman

Breathe 2021

Hadleigh Pool and Leisure Centre, Suffolk

Commissioner: Babergh District Council

Commissioned Brise Soleil for the new Hadleigh Pool and Leisure Centre that was functional and appealing for both residents and visitors alike.

The artwork was developed from workshops with St Mary’s Primary School, Hadleigh Dementia Action Alliance, and Hadleigh High School. The groups created drawings and watercolour paintings, focusing on the themes of well-being, exercise, mind and body, and the environment.

The words WALK LISTEN BALANCE RUN JUMP WATCH SWIM CYCLE DIVE BREATHE are inspired by the illustrations in their artwork. The 20m long sunscreen is printed onto aluminium panels. The text selected highlights the importance of exercise and activity in well-being. The whole artwork hopefully creates a feeling of calm and flow.

The artwork also references the work of local artist and plantsman Cedris Morris, who lived at Benton End, Hadleigh. Cedric Morris was pivotal in the establishing the East Anglian School of Painting and Drawing. The background for the artwork uses colours inspired by his paintings with their use of blues, lilacs, rusts, browns, and the abstracted, flattened planes of colour.