Dominic Holland DOP's video: Luke Irwin - The Tale of the Deverill Villa

Luke Irwin - The Tale of the Deverill Villa http://www.lukeirwin.com | The Deverill Villa was discovered beneath rug designer Luke Irwin's Wiltshire property in early 2014. The initial discovery, a full mosaic in wonderful condition, went on to inspire his 2016 Mosaic Collection. This video shows the Roman villa as rendered by a video artist, based on the discoveries made at the site. | In February 2015, while laying electricity cables at his Wiltshire farmhouse, rug designer Luke Irwin struck a cold, flat surface. There, about 18 inches beneath the muddy topsoil, lay an untouched Roman mosaic – a striking pattern, unseen for some 1,600 years. A mesh of vivid oranges, creams and greys, the mosaic was extraordinarily well-preserved, sparking a ‘frisson of excitement’ in the designer as he stood above it. However, this was only the very beginning, and the incredible journey that began on the edge of that field is only coming full circle now, 15 extraordinary months on. In little over a year, Irwin has learnt, via involvement with Historic England, that his Wiltshire home is the site of the Deverill Villa, one of the most significant Roman finds in decades – a vast two-storey ‘palace’ that once housed dignitaries of some importance. While Brixton Deverill may now be a sleepy backwater, the discovery of oyster shells, sarcophagi and seemingly endless ’tesserae’ blocks of Cirencester mosaic suggest that the peaceful valley may have once been quite the opposite. For a luxury floor designer of Irwin’s stature to have discovered the 400AD equivalent of his work beneath his garden gate is, in his words, ‘beyond serendipity’, and the creative impulses fired by the mosaic proved too great to ignore. Keen to avoid creating ‘a pastiche of Roman mosaic’, Irwin worked with his creative partner, Vikram Kapoor, to weave a series of exquisite pieces inspired by the discovery. The Luke Irwin Mosaic Collection, launching in April 2016, is the modern equivalent of the luxury floor pieces so highly prised by the Roman elite. A unique combination of silks and oxidised wools, the rugs take inspiration from the proud, ancient, astonishing work of the Cirencester mosaicists and fires brings it into the present. “People have rugs, cushions and sofas,” says Irwin, "and their room looks so fine, so splendid, so understated. But they’re not really looking at it. It’s just a backdrop to their lives. With this collection, I wanted to spark a thought process that might be a bit more interesting than the norm. I see it as a portal, or a sort of potion, to take you back 2,000 years. There are not many objects that have the power to trigger those thoughts.” For the complete story, as well as a chance to look at the collection itself, head to http://www.lukeirwin.com. We look forward to sharing this magnificent tale with you.