The World Gymnastics Championships Liverpool 2022 (WGC2022) has announced that Wirral-based designer, Amy Flynn, will design the medals for the upcoming Championships.
The medals, which take inspiration from the streets of the city and Liverpool’s rich cultural heritage, will be awarded to the world’s best artistic gymnasts from this October.
Liverpool based Bluecoat Display Centre, a nationally and internationally recognised contemporary craft and design gallery, led the call-out for submissions and also featured on the panel that selected Flynn as the designer responsible for creating the medals.
Flynn’s first inspiration came from the stained glass of the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral – a memory from a school trip long ago that stuck with her. Also incorporated as part of the design are fragmented shapes using maps and satellite images of Liverpool from above, and textures taken by hand in wax from locations around Liverpool – the Liver Building, M&S Bank Arena and Liverpool Waterfront – that will be cast into metal.
Proud to be producing the competition’s medal using her own personal relationship to the city and its character, Flynn said:
“I have always wanted to be involved in art and design – I used to draw all day long as a kid and now I am proud to say it is my career. My studies took me into jewellery and accessories, where a lot of the techniques for designing this medal come from.
“I had such a strong memory from visiting the Metropolitan Cathedral as a younger child, and I remember seeing the kaleidoscopic effect of the stained glass. In designing this medal, I was inspired by that sense of fragmentation, parts that are not necessarily so impressive individually, but when brought together make something really special.
“It is absolutely fantastic that people from around the world will be here for gymnastics, and to experience Liverpool – it is really exciting for everyone involved. The texture of the medal will quite literally showcase the feel of the city – we will be taking texture from iconic Liverpool landmarks including the M&S Bank Arena where the competition will be hosted.”
Process as well as product is important for Flynn, whose work always revolves around sustainability. For the World Gymnastics Championships Liverpool 2022 medals, the process will be no different:
“I always aim to use recycled metals and materials, and with our medals we will be working to use the most sustainable materials throughout. The ribbons and boxes for the medals will be the same – the World Gymnastics Championships Liverpool 2022 is working to deliver as sustainable an event as possible, and the medal design will be a part of that.”
Sam Rhodes, Director at the Bluecoat Display Centre, reflected on their excitement to display Amy’s work during competition time:
“We are delighted to be involved in this exciting opportunity benefitting an early career maker from our region and look forward to presenting Amy’s jewellery here at the Bluecoat Display Centre in a special showcase taking place during the Championships.”
Gemma Williams Fox, Championships Director of the World Gymnastics Championships Liverpool 2022, spoke on the significance of engaging with local artistic talent to produce the competition’s medals:
“We are delighted to be working with Amy on the medal design for the World Gymnastics Championships Liverpool 2022. She has a strong connection to Liverpool and has done a brilliant job ensuring the unique character of the city is represented beautifully at the heart of the event. The World Championships will be an incredible spectacle, and it is fitting to have striking, sustainable medals for the competition designed by a local maker.”
The World Gymnastics Championships Liverpool 2022 will be an Olympic qualifying event for the Paris 2024 games and will be one of the largest international sporting events ever to be held in the city. 550 gymnasts from 75 countries will compete in the global event at the M&S Bank Arena, which will take place from 29 October to 6 November 2022.
To find out more and get your tickets, visit 2022worldgymnastics.com.
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