Glastonbury Festival, one of the most prestigious music and performing arts events, has announced the return of Carhenge to Worthy Farm. This will mark 36 years since Joe Rush, the revolutionary artist behind this iconic sculpture, first constructed it at the Festival grounds in 1987.
Joe Rush, who is also the founder of the Mutoid Waste Company, is known as a “master builder of rock’n’roll environments”. His Carhenge sculpture is a monumental installation composed of 24 transformed vintage cars arranged into a structure reminiscent of Stonehenge.
Carhenge, which is set to be erected in the William’s Green area of the Festival, is recognised as a tribute to those individuals considered outcasts in society. The official statement accompanying the announcement describes the installation as a dedication to “the pillars of counterculture, a culture liberated from conformism and consumerism, a culture of subversion that stems from the uncompromising desire of a few rare visionary and revolutionary originators – from Quentin Crisp to Hunter S Thompson.”
This year’s Carhenge will be brought to life through an array of lights designed by renowned lighting designer Ed Warren, set against the backdrop of Congolese jump-up beats from Fulu Miziki, a phrase which translates to “music from the garbage” in Lingala.
The centre of Carhenge will serve as a stage for the “African Mutoids” from Kinshasa, who will perform their afro-futurist sound on percussion instruments made from various items of trash, ranging from flip flops to plastic tubing, starting from Thursday, June 22nd.
The return of Carhenge also serves to honour the long-standing creative relationship between Glastonbury’s founder, Michael Eavis, and Joe Rush, who have collaborated artistically for 38 years. This year’s festival will present a retrospective of Joe Rush’s work at Glastonbury, aptly titled “Mutoid Wastelands.”
Over the decades, Glastonbury attendees have had the pleasure of experiencing Rush’s innovative artwork, which has become an integral part of the festival experience. From the 1985 Skull Bus and the original Carhenge in 1987 to later installations like the giant metallic winged clock, known as Peace Time Flies, and the Other Stage Fish Proscenium ornament.
Glastonbury 2023 is set to make history, showcasing seven of Rush’s major installations simultaneously in what is being referred to as “his museum in the wild.”
As Carhenge begins to take form ahead of the festival, Joe Rush and his creative team have initiated an Instagram account to provide updates on the construction progress. Early posts feature the Carhenge construction team at work on the William’s Green site.
Image credits:
Anna Barclay
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