A 23-year-old artist from Rayleigh has been awarded a £5,000 art commission to create a major installation for Launchpad, Southend’s innovation centre located in the Airport Business Park.
Hannah Wilkins, a Fine Art graduate from South Essex College of Further and Higher Education (Southend Campus), will produce Terminal Tomorrow. The dynamic and thought-provoking Agamograph artwork changes depending on the viewer’s perspective.
Hannah said:
“I’m so excited to be given this opportunity – creating art is such a therapeutic process for me.
“Terminal Tomorrow is all about shifting viewpoints and how fresh perspectives can spark innovation.
“It’s an honour to create something for a space that shares those values.”
This is Hannah’s first professional commission.
She will produce the work from her nan’s garage while continuing her role at an IT firm in Wickford.
Hannah remains closely connected to the local creative community, having previously held a space at Southend’s theblokhouse studios – a connection that introduced her to the Launchpad opportunity.
Hannah was inspired by Launchpad’s ethos of collaboration, innovation and sustainability. The piece invites audiences to reflect on how shifting perspectives can lead to new solutions.
An Agamograph is a form of kinetic art that reveals two different images when viewed from different angles. Hannah’s installation will feature:
- From the left: A split image of a plane; half depicting an antiquated aircraft in a bygone world, and half showing a futuristic, sustainable vision of flight. This side pays homage to the nearby airport and Southend’s history of innovation.
- From the right: Two reaching hands; one human, representing tradition, and the other robotic, symbolising progress and technology. This echoes Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam and highlights the relationship between humanity, technology and sustainable progress.
Laura Johnson, Centre Manager at Launchpad, said:
“Hannah’s proposal was both visually compelling and conceptually strong.
“Terminal Tomorrow captures the spirit of Launchpad perfectly – forward-thinking, collaborative, and rooted in community.
“We’re thrilled to support this emerging local talent.”
The completed piece will be unveiled in September 2025, becoming a marker of creativity within one of Southend’s most future-facing buildings.
