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Quiescence

2019 - present (unreleased)

‘Quiescence’ refers to a prolonged period of quietness or stillness. Often used in human biology as a term given to the dormancy of cells which enter a state of inactivity, but retain the ability to divide and effectively return to life again with the right stimuli.

In September 2019 after a year of planning, Kirsty began shooting her ambitious new series ‘Quiescence’ which is based on the events in her personal life between 2015 – 2018; during which time she gave birth to her only child Finch, and 8 months later was diagnosed with breast cancer. It will be split into 3 chapters, inspired by her pregnancy, the creation of life in the womb, birth and then abruptly switches to the darker subject of mortality, cancer and finally her recovery in the wild garden of her family home in the countryside.

Kirsty describes the project as an even greater undertaking than Wonderland, as the photographs will also be accompanied by fine art films of each scene. The production level is far beyond her earlier work, with some of the sets pieces having taken Kirsty an entire year to make. It is expected to be several years in its creation, with the first photographs due to be previewed at a large scale in June 2024 in Sweden.

Kirsty is now thankfully 7 years clear of her breast cancer and after 5 years struggling with her hormone therapy, she is at last off all treatment. She lives and works in the Surrey countryside with her husband Matthew and their young son Finch. In recent years Matthew’s role has evolved greatly into becoming the producer of ‘Quiescence’ with Kirsty as its director. Together they now work as a husband and wife team on the run up to the shoots, often building the stage sets together and work tightly in unison to capture the images on location.

The Story Behind Quiescence

”'Quiescence' is a story that is autobiographical, inspired by biology, maternal power, life and mortality, but as always takes the form of a fantastical tale.

video previewPlay Video

”'Quiescence' is a story that is autobiographical, inspired by biology, maternal power, life and mortality, but as always takes the form of a fantastical tale.

‘Quiescence’ is a story that is autobiographical, inspired by biology, maternal power, life and mortality, but as always takes the form of a fantastical tale. It was conceived as a project concept during some of darkest years of my life between 2015 – 2018 . Following the success of Wonderland and the birth of my son Finch, within a matter of months my entire existence went into freefall when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2016. My transition to motherhood had been difficult, but now any kind of future became unimaginable as I entered a period in which the days blurred into hopelessness and I simply wanted to disappear.

‘Quiescence’ is a story that is autobiographical, inspired by biology, maternal power, life and mortality, but as always takes the form of a fantastical tale. It was conceived as a project concept during some of darkest years of my life between 2015 – 2018 . Following the success of Wonderland and the birth of my son Finch, within a matter of months my entire existence went into freefall when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2016. My transition to motherhood had been difficult, but now any kind of future became unimaginable as I entered a period in which the days blurred into hopelessness and I simply wanted to disappear.

Sleepwalking through cancer treatment whilst looking after a baby, my former life as an artist became more and more distant, as the days bled into weeks and time became fluid in a way I could hardly grasp. The paradox of creating life within my body, only to be questioning my own mortality within a matter of months, led me back to the woodland where I had originally grieved for my mother. There, within the company of trees, I was able to let out all of my fears and emotions. A church of towering branches whose energy was the only spiritual connection that made sense to me, became the roots which held me steadfast throughout that time.

Publicly all activity of my work stopped, I was unable to make anything new with the demands of parenthood and crippling side effects of my treatment, and so I became dormant, waiting and hoping for a time when I could one day come back to life and create again. This is where the origins of the title ‘Quiescence’ came from, its meaning refers to a prolonged period of quietness or stillness. Often used in human biology as a term given to the dormancy of cells which enter a state of inactivity, but retain the ability to divide and effectively return to life again with the right stimuli.

Sleepwalking through cancer treatment whilst looking after a baby, my former life as an artist became more and more distant, as the days bled into weeks and time became fluid in a way I could hardly grasp. The paradox of creating life within my body, only to be questioning my own mortality within a matter of months, led me back to the woodland where I had originally grieved for my mother. There, within the company of trees, I was able to let out all of my fears and emotions. A church of towering branches whose energy was the only spiritual connection that made sense to me, became the roots which held me steadfast throughout that time.

Publicly all activity of my work stopped, I was unable to make anything new with the demands of parenthood and crippling side effects of my treatment, and so I became dormant, waiting and hoping for a time when I could one day come back to life and create again. This is where the origins of the title ‘Quiescence’ came from, its meaning refers to a prolonged period of quietness or stillness. Often used in human biology as a term given to the dormancy of cells which enter a state of inactivity, but retain the ability to divide and effectively return to life again with the right stimuli.

video previewPlay Video

Outwardly an indefinite pause in my life had begun, one that I wasn’t sure if I’d ever return from, as 5 years of hormone treatment slowly stripped back the last of my self-esteem and strength. But slowly, just as a seed sits silent in the soil, I found ways to plan and eventually the first green shoots of the project unfurled.

Larger in scale than anything I have ever attempted and admittedly, at first, driven by the fear this might be my last chance to make a large body of work; I set out to recreate the visions I’d obsessively dreamt of during those years when I was unable to work. Supported by an incredible team of professionals whose talent and dedication I am forever indebted to, over the past few years those visions have slowly come to life, not only as stills but also in the form of beautiful, haunting moving image. The process has been incredibly demanding, but has yielded results beyond all my expectations; something I wish I could go back and show to my younger, scared self, who felt it was only a dream that I could never, possibly make a reality.

Outwardly an indefinite pause in my life had begun, one that I wasn’t sure if I’d ever return from, as 5 years of hormone treatment slowly stripped back the last of my self-esteem and strength. But slowly, just as a seed sits silent in the soil, I found ways to plan and eventually the first green shoots of the project unfurled.

Larger in scale than anything I have ever attempted and admittedly, at first, driven by the fear this might be my last chance to make a large body of work; I set out to recreate the visions I’d obsessively dreamt of during those years when I was unable to work. Supported by an incredible team of professionals whose talent and dedication I am forever indebted to, over the past few years those visions have slowly come to life, not only as stills but also in the form of beautiful, haunting moving image. The process has been incredibly demanding, but has yielded results beyond all my expectations; something I wish I could go back and show to my younger, scared self, who felt it was only a dream that I could never, possibly make a reality.

The Quiescence Team

Kirsty Mitchell

Director,  Character & Set Designer / Lead prop maker

Separate to the photography, as with all her work, Kirsty also designs every single element of the characters and scenes in her artworks, this includes the hair, make up, costumes, props and sets. Her props and costumes take many months to make, and for those physically beyond her abilities, Kirsty will work closely with fabricators Master & Munn to bring the design to life.  She builds the sets with her husband Matthew and assistants on location, and directs alongside cinematographer Gary Kent to capture the scenes on film.

The production of Quiescence has been spread across numerous locations in the UK, incorporating both photography and artistic filming. In 2019, due to its ambitious storyline, Kirsty began forming a highly skilled team to help bring her character and set designs to life. This included avant garde hair stylist Sylvestre Finold , cinematographer Gary Kent and expert sculptors / body casters – Masters & Munn, who took on the challenge to fabricate Kirsty’s design for the clear pregnant torso.

Just like Wonderland the scenes are entirely real; shot in all weathers on challenging terrain or in large scale, custom-built sets. With over a year or more in between shoots, and a pandemic to navigate during the process, Quiescence is an ongoing body of work that requires a great deal of time for Kirsty to create. However, it is this return to craft and months of meticulously handmade detail, that are necessary to fully realise these vivid visions in both an authentic and believable way for the viewer.

Kirsty Mitchell

Director,  Character & Set Designer / Lead prop maker

Separate to the photography, as with all her work, Kirsty also designs every single element of the characters and scenes in her artworks, this includes the hair, make up, costumes, props and sets. Her props and costumes take many months to make, and for those physically beyond her abilities, Kirsty will work closely with fabricators Master & Munn to bring the design to life.  She builds the sets with her husband Matthew and assistants on location, and directs alongside cinematographer Gary Kent to capture the scenes on film…

Read More

The production of Quiescence has been spread across numerous locations in the UK, incorporating both photography and artistic filming. In 2019, due to its ambitious storyline, Kirsty began forming a highly skilled team to help bring her character and set designs to life. This included avant garde hair stylist Sylvestre Finold , cinematographer Gary Kent and expert sculptors / body casters – Masters & Munn, who took on the challenge to fabricate Kirsty’s design for the clear pregnant torso.

Just like Wonderland the scenes are entirely real; shot in all weathers on challenging terrain or in large scale, custom-built sets. With over a year or more in between shoots, and a pandemic to navigate during the process, Quiescence is an ongoing body of work that requires a great deal of time for Kirsty to create. However, it is this return to craft and months of meticulously handmade detail, that are necessary to fully realise these vivid visions in both an authentic and believable way for the viewer.

Matthew Stevensen

Producer

Matthew originally trained in architecture, and started his own practice in London in 2008. He worked on education, healthcare and residential projects, and co-led the design team responsible for the Newcomen Centre project at St.Thomas’ Hospital, the largest children’s neurosciences service in Europe. In 2015 he co-launched the record-breaking ‘Wonderland Book’ Kickstarter campaign with Kirsty. By 2019 he had left architecture and became Producer of the Quiescence series, with responsibilities including set architect, lighting, and technical lead.

Matthew Stevensen

Producer

Matthew originally trained in architecture, and started his own practice in London in 2008…

Read More

He worked on education, healthcare and residential projects, and co-led the design team responsible for the Newcomen Centre project at St.Thomas’ Hospital, the largest children’s neurosciences service in Europe. In 2015 he co-launched the record-breaking ‘Wonderland Book’ Kickstarter campaign with Kirsty. By 2019 he had left architecture and became Producer of the Quiescence series, with responsibilities including set architect, lighting, and technical lead.

Masters and Munn

Prop Fabrication & Set Building

André Masters and CJ Munn are a creative couple, who’s pooled talents of André’s past as a model maker for the film industry and CJ’s experience as a multi-award-winning commercial artist, equip them with the skills to produce bespoke works of 3D art and installations in every conceivable medium. Their awards include the Global Rising Star Award for their sculpture, ‘Icarus had a sister’ which was shown at The Louvre, Paris in 2013. Andre was head of department for Wes Anderson’s ‘Isle of Dogs’ as well as working on Pride and Prejudice, The Crown and Doctor Who. Their clients which have included royalty, The National Space Centre and The European Space Agency. Their works have been exhibited at The Royal Society, The Wellcome Collection, Leeds Castle, and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Masters and Munn

Prop Fabrication & Set Building

André Masters and CJ Munn are a creative couple, who’s pooled talents of André’s past as a model maker for the film industry and CJ’s experience as a multi-award-winning commercial artist, equip them with the skills to produce bespoke works of 3D art and installations in every conceivable medium…

Read More

Their awards include the Global Rising Star Award for their sculpture, ‘Icarus had a sister’ which was shown at The Louvre, Paris in 2013. Andre was head of department for Wes Anderson’s ‘Isle of Dogs’ as well as working on Pride and Prejudice, The Crown and Doctor Who. Their clients which have included royalty, The National Space Centre and The European Space Agency. Their works have been exhibited at The Royal Society, The Wellcome Collection, Leeds Castle, and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Sylvestre Finold

Hair Stylist

Sylvestre is an award-winning hair artist based in London, originally from Reunion island. He has most recently won the 2022 International Hairdressing Awards – Avant Garde category, as well as the British Hairdressing Awards in 2021, 2020, 2018. He currently travels the world as a member of Guido Palau’s hairstylist team who create the looks for leading International catwalk shows, including designers such as Gucci, Alexander McQueen, Dior, Schiaparelli and Versace to name just a few. He has also worked on two major films from the Marvel Studios ‘Ant Man & The Wasp’ and ‘The Marvels’.

Sylvestre Finold

Hair Stylist

Sylvestre is an award-winning hair artist based in London, originally from Reunion island. He has most recently won the 2022 International Hairdressing Awards – Avant Garde category, as well as the British Hairdressing Awards in 2021, 2020, 2018…

Read More

He currently travels the world as a member of Guido Palau’s hairstylist team who create the looks for leading International catwalk shows, including designers such as Gucci, Alexander McQueen, Dior, Schiaparelli and Versace to name just a few. He has also worked on two major films from the Marvel Studios ‘Ant Man & The Wasp’ and ‘The Marvels’.

Skye Victoria Kelly-Barrett

Lead Model

Skye is the founder of Roar Illustration Agency, and previously Art Director and Curator online art gallery Skull & Heart, both of which are based in London, UK.  Originally a model with Profile agency since 2008, in more recent years Skye left modelling to focus on her growing business, but continues to collaborate with independent artists and designers as their muse for projects she feels drawn to.

Skye Victoria Kelly-Barrett

Lead Model

Skye is the founder of Roar Illustration Agency, and previously Art Director and Curator online art gallery Skull & Heart, both of which are based in London, UK…

Read More

Originally a model with Profile agency since 2008, in more recent years Skye left modelling to focus on her growing business, but continues to collaborate with independent artists and designers as their muse for projects she feels drawn to.

Gary Kent

Cinematographer

Originally from England, Gary travelled to the US to study at the New York Film Academy at the age of 18. He spent the next 3 years completing his Bachelor of Film Arts degree between NYC and later Los Angeles. Over the next few years he remained in LA working as a Camera and Steadicam operator on multiple feature films, commercials and music videos until returning to the UK in 2018. Since then Gary has continued honing his craft shooting for major brands such as Givenchy, Gucci, island records, WMG, universal pictures and Netflix. Recent projects include Jungle Volcano visual album, feature film Lady Chatterley’s lover, and Givenchy 2023 fashion campaigns.

Gary Kent

Cinematographer

Originally from England, Gary travelled to the US to study at the New York Film Academy at the age of 18. He spent the next 3 years completing his Bachelor of Film Arts degree between NYC and later Los Angeles…

Read More

Over the next few years he remained in LA working as a Camera and Steadicam operator on multiple feature films, commercials and music videos until returning to the UK in 2018. Since then Gary has continued honing his craft shooting for major brands such as Givenchy, Gucci, island records, WMG, universal pictures and Netflix. Recent projects include Jungle Volcano visual album, feature film Lady Chatterley’s lover, and Givenchy 2023 fashion campaigns.

Wilma Stigson

Make-up Artist

Wilma is a Swedish make-up artist, based in London. Coming from a fashion background she has worked in some of the UK’s biggest makeup artists team, such as Pat McGrath and Val Garland. Her eclectic taste and use of unusual materials has enabled her to effortlessly cross over to the film industry, where she has most recently worked on big productions such as The Marvel’s, Loki, Wicked and Beetlejuice 2.

Wilma Stigson

Make-up Artist

Wilma is a Swedish make-up artist, based in London. Coming from a fashion background she has worked in some of the UK’s biggest makeup artists team, such as Pat McGrath and Val Garland…

Read More

Her eclectic taste and use of unusual materials has enabled her to effortlessly cross over to the film industry, where she has most recently worked on big productions such as The Marvel’s, Loki, Wicked and Beetlejuice 2.

Further Credits

William Wallace – 1st Assistant Camera / Focus Puller

Devin Schiro – Co Director of film unit / 2019 shoot

Tim Charles Matthews – Behind the Scenes photographer 2019-2023

Elbie Van Eeden – Make up & hair assistant

Luke Black – Assistant Set Builder

Special thanks to…

Helen O’Kane (Director of Forest of Dean & Wye Valley Tourism)

Samantha & Dominique  (Norman Marshall Ltd)

John Stone (The Stone Family Foundation)

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