About the
project
Did you know that around 80% of plants found in UK city-gardens originated overseas?*
Well it’s true! And it is from this remarkable statistic that the idea for PoliNations first took seed. PoliNations reflects on the UK’s complex histories surrounding migration and diversity whilst celebrating our differences, our roots, and our future, and emphasising the importance of access to green spaces and a healthy planet.
Step into a spectacular city-centre garden of magical proportions where you will be welcomed by an epic array of colour and nature.
Giant architectural trees and thousands of plants transformed Victoria Square into an urban oasis, hosting free events, workshops and performances including live music, dance, spoken word and drag.
This supernatural wonderland uncovered the origin stories of the plants we know so well – daisies, pansies, apple trees, roses – in fact these, and most of the plants we see in our gardens are not from the UK. They tell the story of journeys, movement, dispersal, and new roots.
PoliNations is a celebration of colour, beauty, and of natural diversity. Explore, enjoy and be your true unique self. You can experience music from around the world, an incredible light show, and a grand finale like no other where the tree’s canopies will burst into a joyful cloud of confetti and colour.
This is Carnival and Holi combined in one brilliant, messy, playful party and everyone is invited.
Find out more about the inspiration behind PoliNations here!
*Statistic taken from a study by Professor Jane Memmott, Professor of Ecology at Bristol University and President of the British Ecological Society, and colleagues.
About Trigger
Trigger are shapeshifting creatives who dream-up, create and produce bold and brave live and digital events. They interrupt daily life, reimagine and revive public spaces, and put audiences and togetherness at the heart of everything they do. Their work is accessible, inclusive and boundary pushing, and is often large-scale and often outdoors. They create epic, imaginative spaces, fly giant dragons and care for their community.
Trigger created the worlds first flying puppet, ‘The Hatchling’. In 2022, The Hatchling lead the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant's cultural celebrations on the Mall, outside Buckingham Palace.
Trigger are excited to be breaking the boundaries of the traditional R&D process with a radical new digital process that will connect creatives from across the globe to unpack the tangled history of botany, plant uses and ownership in GROW!
The Team
PoliNations is produced and led by the Bristol based arts organisation Trigger, and a collective of creatives and experts in horticulture, arts, science, and architecture.
Creative Director of PoliNations and Artistic Director of Trigger (The Hatchling, WithYou, Curio)
Multidisciplinary designer and artist (Björk, Ellie Goulding, London 2012 Olympics Opening and Closing Ceremonies)
Award-winning architecture, research and spatial design studio with a unique specialism in sustainable building, materials and landscape.
Creative Director of PoliNations and Artistic Director of Trigger (The Hatchling, WithYou, Curio)
Multidisciplinary designer and artist (Björk, Ellie Goulding, London 2012 Olympics Opening and Closing Ceremonies)
Award-winning architecture, research and spatial design studio with a unique specialism in sustainable building, materials and landscape.
Events specialists (MIF, Waltham Forest London Borough of Culture, GDIF, Hull UK City of Culture)
Events specialists (MIF, Waltham Forest London Borough of Culture, GDIF, Hull UK City of Culture)
Costume Designer and founder of Mahogany Carnival (Notting Hill Carnival, Millennium Dome Opening Ceremony)
Costume Designer (RuPaul’s Drag Race, The Hatchling)
Horticultural designers (Contributors to RHS Chelsea Flower Show medal-winners, Hauser & Wirth Somerset, Royal Marsden Hospital)
Costume Designer and founder of Mahogany Carnival (Notting Hill Carnival, Millennium Dome Opening Ceremony)
Costume Designer (RuPaul’s Drag Race, The Hatchling)
Horticultural designers (Contributors to RHS Chelsea Flower Show medal-winners, Hauser & Wirth Somerset, Royal Marsden Hospital)
FAQs
General questions about PoliNations
PoliNations is an epic super garden of magical proportions which came to Birmingham in September! With giant fabricated trees sitting amongst thousands of plants and flowers co-planted by Birmingham residents - the site hosted a spectacular free events programme celebrating colour, beauty and natural diversity.
This super-natural wonderland brought live music, poetry, workshops, light shows, unexpected plant-life origin stories and much more to the residents and visitors of Birmingham!
PoliNations ran from Fri 2 - Sun 18 September 2022.
PoliNations planted in Victoria Square and Chamberlain Square in Birmingham.
PoliNations in Birmingham was part of UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK, a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of creativity taking place across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and online from March to October 2022.
The landmark programme features 10 very different creative projects, all made for UNBOXED – and includes hundreds of events, experiences and activities, both live and online. Every event in our programme is free.
PoliNations is created, produced and led by the Bristol based arts organisation Trigger, and a collective of creatives and experts in horticulture, arts, science, and architecture. Check out our About Us page to find out about everyone involved in the project.
Trigger are shapeshifting creatives who dream-up, create and produce bold and brave live and digital events. They interrupt daily life, reimagine and revive public spaces, and put audiences and togetherness at the heart of everything we do. Their work is accessible, inclusive and boundary pushing, and is often large-scale and often outdoors. They create epic, imaginative spaces, fly giant dragons and grow magical pop-up gardens. Want to hear more? Go to our website.
Or follow us on social media:
Twitter: @triggerstuff
Instagram: @trigger_stuff
Facebook: @TriggerStuff
The UNBOXED events took place across the United Kingdom between March and October 2022. Visit Unboxed for more details.
The event was funded by UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK which is funded and supported by the four governments of the UK, co-commissioned with Belfast City Council, Creative Wales and EventScotland.
Of course! We’ll be sharing some elements of the programme online so you can join in on the action from anywhere in the world, and our app will come with even more fun ways to engage with PoliNations wherever you are!
