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Lady Gaga wore Jack Irving’s designs during her ArtRave tour
A designer whose outfits have been worn by Lady Gaga will create a new deep sea-themed installation for Blackpool Illuminations after winning a contest.
Blackpool’s Jack Irving has been awarded £100,000 to create his design, after artists were asked to bring a “new dimension” to the famous show.
The artist, who created three pieces for the singer, will create his vision with Lancaster University scientists.
The 26-year-old said making a new illumination was a “dream come true”.
The competition, judged by a panel led by designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, invited participants to bring a “new dimension” of both design and technology to the show.
Llewelyn-Bowen said there had been some “extraordinarily exciting entries”, but Irving’s was the best.
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Anthony Lycett
Jack Irving said his piece will be inspired by the ocean and the “glamour of Blackpool”
The artist, who takes inspiration from his hometown’s bright lights, said the as-yet-unrevealed piece was inspired particularly by the “glamour of Blackpool”, sea organisms and the BBC TV series Blue Planet.
“As a child, I would always point at the Blackpool Tower lights and say to my parents, ‘one day, I’ll design those’,” he said.
“It has been a total dream come true.
“I’m going to be able to give something back to what inspired my designs in the first place.”
Irving said his most famous creation, a shimmering sea urchin-inspired piece which Lady Gaga wore in 2014, began life as a sketch he made as a teenager while working at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
He said the Poker Face and Bad Romance singer was his “muse”, adding: “To have her wear my pieces was so surreal.”
The installation will be on display as part of the Illuminations from 4 September to 8 November.