Thirteen

Abstract

Thirteen interrogates the history and significance of 27/28 Queen Street, Derby, a now derelict building that was once the home of John Flamsteed (1646-1719), the first Astronomer Royal. A series of works, including a digital animation, gifs, digital prints and an artist’s book. The work will be exhibited at the Wirksworth Festival 2016 and also at Derby Cathedral. The publication will include commissioned essays that consider the themes of Thirteen from range of disciplines, it will be published by QUAD. Before moving south to Greenwich in 1675, Flamsteed compiled a ‘great catalogue of the stars’ from a series of observations all based on a Derby Meridian that ran through the back garden of his Derby home. The place from where the position of every other place – on Earth, and in the Heavens - was determined was in his back garden in Derby. Thirteen considers the resonance of Derby having shifted from being the centre or beginning of the world, to being 5 minutes 54.6 seconds behind. Thirteen was commissioned by D-LAB Digital Art in Derbyshire and supported by a University of Derby College of Arts Research grant. Digital animation by Tim Shore. Sound by Michael Brown.