Firehawks
Firehawks: new research project exploring children who set fire
Firehawks are an Australian bird who create bushfires by dropping already burning sticks in an attempt to direct prey fleeing an original blaze. They actively transform their landscapes to ensure their nourishment, and are a key cause of bushfires in Australia. Adopting the name of these unique birds, artist Stephen King is embarking on the project Firehawks, a research project exploring parallels of the firehawk phenomenon to children who set fires.
Children start 25% of deliberate fires in the UK. Research has identified the main causes of fire setting behaviour, often not uncovered until adulthood: play, peer pressure, a cry for help (due to stress) or a child who has been affected by traumatic experiences. Children use the power of fire due to feelings of helplessness. King wishes to reflect his personal experience alongside the experience of others about this use of natural element as a form of control.
The aim of this research phase is for King to create a new series of landscapes of his firesetting locations to facilitate a wider discussion with others who have a history of firesetting or who work in this field with children or adults eg Fire Service, mental health services, academics. Through this people will be invited to take part in a longer term project.
Firehawks will also be working with a writer to respond to the development process and connect the narratives uncovered throughout the research project.
Firehawks has been part funded by Arts Council England and part funded by Open Eye Gallery.
Stephen King
Stephen King is a socially engaged photographer with over 20 years experience of working across cultural, educational and community sectors. His practice is varied but always involves collaborations with people and how they navigate society as individuals or part of a community. Moving from documentary and editorial work to more personally instigated & collaborative work, he has since collaborated on projects with industrial workers, miners, prisoners, LGBTQ+ communities, veterans, retail workers, universities, people with dementia, homeless, young people, travellers, sporting clubs, medical institutions, artists, writers & academics. He lectures at Glyndwr University in Wrexham.
www.stephenkingphotography.co.uk
Get involved in this project
Were you a child who fireset? Have you worked with children who fire set? We would love to have a chat with you about the possibility of being involved in this project. All you have to do is phone or text Angy, the producer of the project, on the number 07547 154 916 or email angharadwilliams1979@gmail.com, where she will have a chat with you and ask a little about your experiences and give you more information about the project. We fully appreciate this can be a very sensitive subject and all conversations will be kept confidential.
