FF Gaiden: Legacy, 2017
FF Gaiden: Legacy by Larry Achiampong & David Blandy, 2017
UHD video, 15 mins
In the Collection of Yorkshire Sculpture Park and Castleford Heritage Trust
FF Gaiden: Legacy is a new edition of the FF Gaiden series by Larry Achiampong and David Blandy, who have collaborated together since 2013 alongside their individual practices. The word ‘gaiden’ is Japanese for a ‘side story’, and in the digital gaming world is used to describe a spin-off of an existing gameworld. The first edition of the series, FF Gaiden: Delete is held in the Arts Council Collection, and was co-produced by the artists and the group People in Limbo in Oslo in 2016, facilitated by PRAKSIS. It tells the life stories of those who are not official citizens of any place, through open-source footage from the Grand Theft Auto 5 video game.
The YSP and Castleford Heritage Trust edition tells the story of local resident Alison Catherall. Born and still living in Castleford, the birthplace of Henry Moore, Alison’s story parallels that of her hometown, telling of the impact of the decline in local industries and mine closures, as well as her hopes to raise aspiration and inspiration amongst the town’s young people and families through education, culture and heritage.
FF Gaiden: Legacy was shown as part of Revolt & Revolutions, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, 2018