​Bubbles, a Fairytale
Government Art Collection, UK, Commissioned, 2024
The Government Art Collection (GAC), UK commissioned a series of eight illustrations to accompany a fairytale aimed at educating young children with special needs at the Swiss Cottage School about their collection. Through an interactive workshop, the GAC would use the illustrations to conduct an activity with bubbles and introduce the artwork by Rachel Whiteread titled 'Untitled (Bubble)'.
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The artwork would incorporate Makaton symbols to facilitate the storytelling. The poem is composed by Shasti Lowton from the GAC.​​
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Click on illustrations to enlarge for details.
Once upon a time, there lived a boy and a girl.
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Brother and sister in a magical world.
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The boy, called Diego, had a magical power.
He could sing so loud, it made rain start to shower.
The girl, called Lola, had powers as well.
When she clicked her fingers, bubbles started to swell.
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Brother and sister lived happily together.
Having so much fun, whatever the weather.
​One day a mean old wizard appeared.
‘This world is too happy’ he said stroking his beard.
‘What can I do to make them despair?’
‘I know!’ he cried out, ‘I’ll ruin the air!’
Waving his wand, he began his spell.
‘Odour kazinga - Make this world SMELL!’
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A horrible stink spread through the land.
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Smelling so bad, animals hid in the sand.
Smelling so bad, plants started to wither.
Smelling so bad, water drained from the river.
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In 5 minutes it infected the whole world.
Reaching the noses of the boy and the girl
​‘That smell is disgusting!’ said Diego, ‘We’re really
in trouble’.
‘Quick!’ shouted Lola ‘let’s jump in a bubble!’
​​She squeezed her eyes shut, clicked her fingers
and blew.
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A big huge bubble appeared, which they
stepped into.
Inside the bubble, they could breathe with ease.
They talked and played games, they did as
they pleased.
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After a while they both became sad.
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They had fun together but they missed their
mum and dad.​
Together they wondered, what they could do.
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They thought long and hard, till the sky turned night blue.
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By sunrise, Diego had just the thing!
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‘Lola!’ he said ‘I think I should sing!’
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He took a deep breath and sang with such power.
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That the sky opened up and rain started to shower.
It rained and it rained, the river soon filled.
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The animals came out, and the birds trilled.
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The plants started to grow as well!
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The rain had washed away the smell!
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‘You did it Diego!’ shouted Lola with glee.
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Pop went the bubble and they both became free.
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They ran to their house by the big tree.
Diego stopped singing and the sun came about.
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‘Mum, Dad’ they shouted ‘it’s safe to come out!’
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Mum and Dad opened the door and hugged them so tight.
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‘We’re so glad you came back, we had such a fright.’
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The four of them walked through the land together.
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Their world was now safe, they could be
happy forever.
My work exhibited at the GAC building in London.