A Flight Through History: Paper Dove Installation at Titanic Belfast

Spring marks a poignant time in Titanic's story — the ship's launch in March and its fateful maiden voyage in April. To honour this historic season, our studio had the incredible opportunity to create an art installation for Titanic Belfast, one that reflects both the spirit of the ship and the memory it holds.
Our installation features 45 delicate paper doves, each handcrafted in various sizes to create a striking 3D ceiling display. More than just an artistic piece, the installation is a tribute — a moment of quiet reflection, a symbol of hope, peace, and remembrance.
What makes these doves particularly special is the paper we used. Each dove was made from a custom-printed material featuring the text from Walter Lord’s book “ A Night to Remember”, two significant newspaper prints: one from the night of the Titanic's sinking in 1912, and one from the opening of Titanic Belfast, decades later. These prints spy to both the tragedy and the legacy — past und present held in flight.

Our talented graphic designer created a bespoke dove template for this installation. Once printed, each piece was individually hand-cut and assembled — a slow and meticulous process, but one we were proud to undertake. The challenge lay not just in shaping the birds, but in balancing them — ensuring their wings could extend gracefully, and their bodies maintain structure without sagging. Paper may be light, but in the air, even the smallest detail affects the overall harmony.

Suspended above, these doves now glide silently in formation, evoking both the fragility of life and the power of collective memory.

We are incredibly grateful to Titanic Belfast for the opportunity to contribute to this meaningful space and moment in time. This project reminded us of the ways art, history, and material can come together — and how even something as simple as paper can carry a deep, resonant story.