The Spill Festival in Ipswich is an artist-led biennale of experimental theatre and live art. Among the myriad of innovative artists and their captivating works, one name that stands out this year, and was featured in The Times on Saturday 14th October 2023, is Bruce Asbestos and his inflatable creations. The team at Glow have worked with Bruce on numerous occasions and were delighted to be involved in bringing his fresh designs to life for this cultural extravaganza.
Inflatables have successfully transcended into the realm of contemporary art, and Bruce Asbestos is a pioneer in this regard. His family-friendly, inflatable sculptures are a whimsical blend of creativity and commentary, often pushing the boundaries of what an inflatable can be.
At the Spill Festival, his inflatable creations are a powerful medium for reflection and conversation. Whether it’s a bright yellow oversized inflatable Mega Bunny, giant pink Octopus or the largest character, Egg Cat, Bruce’s work invites viewers to think while they smile. Like old friends, some of Bruce’s previous inflatable exhibits were also on display.
As spectators meander through the Buttermarket Centre in Ipswich, they can’t help but be drawn to Bruce Asbestos’ Inflatables. The vibrant colours and the unexpected forms all combine to create an experience that is as fun as it is thought-provoking.
Bruce Asbestos explained on Radio Suffolk that his inflatable artworks provide “an invasion of colour and fun into the grey Ipswich skies.” He hopes that as well as attracting visitors to the festival, the giant inflatable sculptures will encourage friends to meet up and chat about them with a sense of wonder and contemplation.
These playful inflatable installations challenge us to look at the ordinary through a different lens and find the extraordinary in the everyday. At Spill Festival Ipswich, Bruce Asbestos’ work, created and installed by Glow Inflatables Ltd, are more than just art – they are an invitation to question, explore, and celebrate the sheer joy of creativity.