International Idols
This year, the Kite Festival is thrilled to be joined by some of the world's top kite fliers and designers! Here are just a few of those International Idols...
Masaaki Modegi (Japan)
Japanese Kite master Masaaki Modegi has been a kite flyer all his life. He is Chairman of the Japan Kite Association and director of the Tokyo Kite Museum which his father founded in 1977. Modegi became a kite collector and researcher under the influence of his father Shingo. In his authoritive book The Making of Japanese Kites: Tradition, Beauty and Creation he unravels they mystery and tradition of Japanese kites and gives instruction on the tools, materials, and techniques involved in Japanese kite making. He is one of only three people to own the World’s Largest kite designed and made by Peter Lynn. His kite is decorated with a rabbit jumping over a moon which is his recognised symbol.
iQuad (US & Canada)
Aerial acrobatics at their best, iQuad uses modern fiber and ripstop polyester "quad line" Revolutions (Rev) kites to fly routines made up of synchronized team maneuvers. Formed in 2006, iQuad is made up of nearly a dozen pilots from all over North America who travel the world, performing and teaching Rev kite flying as an exciting and family safe sport that is accessible to people of all ages and physical abilities, in just about any wind condition. With multiple championship titles, iQuad prides itself on the complexity, speed, difficulty and execution of the maneuvers and styles they use, highlighting the Rev's unique ability for forward and reverse flight, hovers and speed control. Bringing these components together, the team members are able to directly interact with each other, their environment and spectators all over the world. www.teamiquad.com
Peter Lynn (New Zealand)
A Festival favourite, Peter is one of the kite worlds’ true visionaries. Not only has he created some of the most spectacular single line kites on display at this years’ festival, but he is also the father of modern kite traction sports. His distinctive and colourful manta ray kite is a regular at Bristol whilst his octopi, geckos, turtles, teddy bears and latest 3D flying flags are crowd pullers at kite festivals around the world. He also often brings his unique commentary to the powerkiting arena displays!
Robert Brassington (Tasmania)
Award winning Robert is famous from his spectacular cellular kites inspired by Gothic architecture (although his core business is sport kites). His 'cathedrals' are large 3 dimensional sculptural cellular pieces up to 3m x 3 m which emulate Gothic buildings with their tall spires, clover windows and curved vaulting. He started out as horticulturalist then became a full time kite designer and maker, and is currently president of the Kite Flyers of Tasmania. This year will be his third visit to Bristol!
Team AWITA (France)
Under the sun or in the rain, no matter what the wind condition, AWITA’s aim to live up to their mission: "Always In The Air". Their collection of covers kites of all shapes and sizes, including static kites, giant kites, leading edge designs and more! Their demonstrations include choreographed ballets to music, and a crowd favourite their arena races with teams pulling 8m spinning wheels, half kite/half wind toy - called ‘bols’. One of their original creations is their curious neunoeil, multicoloured walking creatures, tethered to the end of kite lines, which dances with the wind.
Jorgen Moller Hansen (Denmark)
Jørgen is a graphic designer by profession. In his spare time he makes and designs kites and teaches kitebuilding in art schools in Scandanavia under the theme ’Graphics in the Sky’. He uses his skills to create the most distinctive and eye catching kites, with bold use of primary colours and abstract shapes. In the 1980s he began creating distinctive sets of kite sails for the Decorators quad line team. In 1999 he designed a special 15th anniversary Bristol festival kite and this year has designed the festival key image/poster.
Robert Van Weers (New Zealand)
Although born in New Zealand, Robert grew up in the Netherlands, where he was introduced to kiteflying (in 1981, when he was working as a chef!). This led to not only a love of flying kites, but also making them as well, originally on an old pedal- driven Singer sewing machine. Since then he has made numerous kites in all shapes and sizes, and in the last few years has started designing his own as well, including the award winning "Pirouette" and "Garfield".
Janneke Groen (The Netherlands)
Janneke is one of the longest standing overseas guest flyers to the Bristol Festival. She is one of the leading experts in applique which involves stitching different colours onto the kite to create a patchwork quilt which when flown allows the light to create a stained glass effect. Janneke has a background in textiles and her trademark is the application of her designs onto distinctive Japanese ‘sode’ or kimono kites. Janneke has recently been involved in the O-Mills kite wind power project with Dutch astronaut Wubbo Ockels and also has many other passions - including gardening, cheese and rollerblading!
Bill Farber (Australia)
Bill has been designing and building his unique, applique kites for almost 20 years and displaying them at kite festivals around the world. His kites are best known as original paintings in the sky, like beautiful designs inspired by Australian nature and culture including an ‘Outback series’ featuring platypuses and kangaroos. He also has some impressive rokakku kites whose large hexagonal sail area lend themselves perfectly to displaying striking graphic designs. William has just published a new book called "Painting with Light and Air" which focuses on creating his unique style of applique.
Heinrich Hohmann (Germany)
Heinrich works as an architect who in recent years has designed and made kites, many for design competitions. Focussing his creative skills, finishing a new concept and working to a deadline is similar to his working as an architect. He often gets his inspirations for new designs whilst long distance running through the woods of his hometown. His designs are often an ensemble where a graphic or visual effect works across more than one kite. Besides building kites Heinrich also writes articles for kite magazines, instructions for classic kites and transferring Japanese kites into models made of modern materials.
