Amazing turnout for Jeremy Deller’s ‘Bats in Space’ launch

Live bat from Sussex Bat Hospital at ‘Bats in Space’ opening, 2nd July 2012, Photo Daniel Thomas

On Monday 2nd July hundreds of people came to the launch of ‘Bats in Space.’  Jeremy Deller has been collaborating with bat scientist Professor Kate Jones UCL to enable people to see and hear the incredible sounds of bats as they echolocate on the Olympic Greenway in East London as part of CREATE. During the opening the audience listened to bat sounds and their sonographs provided by Professor Kate Jones.

See the project pages to book the Bat Walks on from 3-13th July.

Listening and seeing bat sounds, ‘Bats in Space’ opening, Photo Daniel Thomas

The Sussex Bat Hospital brought some captive bats shown in top image (which are being looked after due to being injured) for people at the opening to see and understand more about these wonderful creatures. It was very moving to see bats the size of your thumb and to feel their heart beats.

Jeremy Deller plays vinyl bat sounds, ‘Bats in Space’ opening, photo Daniel Thomas

Jeremy Deller played his vinyl recording of bat sounds from the same caves in Texas that he filmed his 3D film installation ‘Exodus’ shown at the Hayward in May. Professor Kate Jones spoke about bat echolocation and played sonographs to demonstrate the different ways bats communicate and understand their surroundings. Curator and Alice Sharp gave an introduction to the project and spoke about how new technology gives us different ways of understanding biodiversity and some of the effects of Climate Change.

Bat walk after ‘Bats in Space’ opening along towpath by the Olympic Stadium, Photo Daniel Thomas

BBC and Royal Academy reporters attended the launch and the RA Magazine have made this great video.