‘It started with a simple notion and a play on words: What if Hull was really Hollywood and the people of Hull were film stars? We’d have our own Hollywood but in Hull, Hullywood!
I had been thinking about using Hull as a movie set and playground for making work both as a creative space but also as an exhibiting space for a long time. I wanted to create a project and body of work that involved the people of Hull as participants and collaborators in a playful way whilst allowing me to create photographs that people would enjoy looking at and engage with. Creating Hullywood as a concept and showcasing the work as part of ‘The Made in Hull’ opening event makes perfect sense.
The people of Hull and East Yorkshire have really taken Hullywood to their hearts and their enthusiasm, wit and creativity has been truly amazing ‘.
The images of The Hullywood icons have gone around the world.
“Hullywood Icons” was a large-scale, socially engaged photography project that captured the heart and soul of Hull during its tenure as the UK City of Culture in 2017. This ambitious project, conceived and led by artist Quentin Budworth, reimagined iconic scenes from Hollywood films, casting the people of Hull and the East Riding as the stars. The project culminated in a series of high-profile exhibitions across the city, including prominent outdoor projections that transformed Hull’s urban landscape into a vibrant celebration of community and joyful creativity.
Visit the site here: https://hullywoodicons.com/
Quentin Budworth 