Historic tower to illuminate Leeds' history
An historic railway lifting tower at Wellington Place in Leeds is to become the backdrop for a magnificent light projection commemorating 800 years of the signing of the Leeds’ charter.
The tower is being retained as a major feature at the heart of a £300 million new mixed use development.
The giant 50 ft high projection will feature animated artwork created by well known artist and sculptor Peter Coates who has taken inspiration for his piece from the original script text of the Leeds and Liverpool charters created 800 years ago.
Celebrating the anniversary of the signing and the interconnectivity between the two cities, the artwork, named ‘Textus’, is based on the Latin of the charters issued to them in 1207. The new creation is an indecipherable rhythmic pattern which is suggestive of community, communication, language and activity in many layers.
Wellington Place developer MEPC and business and design consultancy Arup have jointly raised funds to support the initiative and will reveal Textus on the 12th October to coincide with Light Night hosted by Leeds City Council (for more information please visit www.lightnight.co.uk).
As well as the launch event on site, the projection will feature on the BBC big screen in Millennium Square. Textus will be displayed in the public realm every night for two weeks until 26th October 2007.
Peter Coates is a sculptor and carver with comprehensive training in traditional techniques and his sculptural stone and text-based materials play an integral part in many UK and international public spaces. A NESTA (The National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts) fellowship to explore the utilisation of new media within his work as led to the commission at Wellington Place.
He comments, “Textus is an extension of my interest as a sculptor in civic inscription, moving it from the static and permanent into a form that is fluid and temporary. Using the Lifting Tower as a cipher of Leeds’ industrial past, the artwork seeks to give status to the structure, to allow it once again to inhabit the space through the exploration of its distinctive character and bring it forward as an object for commemoration.”
Mark Fletcher, Director of Arup who has supported Peter’s fellowship continues, “Textus is a striking creation that totally captures the essence of a script that was the foundation for what has become a truly great city. The piece is not only visually stunning but it is also thought-provoking, encouraging viewers to realise historic values that have ultimately brought prosperity and diversity in the modern day.”
To help deliver the project Arup and MEPC have secured more than £22,000 in sponsorship funding from partner organisations connected to the Wellington Place development. These include careyjones architects, Davis Langdon, Morgans and Leeds City Council. An additional £10,000 funding has been provided by Arts and Business in support of the project.
Textus plays an integral part in the development of Wellington Place which has a comprehensive cultural strategy at the heart of its delivery. As well as the lifting tower exciting aspects of the public realm will include The Green Room with a larger than life ecological mock living room (complete with an enormous television, sofa, table and lamp), two public squares and an urban beach alongside the river.
Katie Grouse, Marketing Manager of MEPC comments, “Textus will herald the launch of Wellington Place as a major cultural space in Leeds where visitors can seek creative opportunity. We know that cultural planning will enhance both the liveability and workability of Wellington Place. It will contribute to the sense of a ‘cared for’ place – where the public, business and residential realms are developed and supported through high quality cultural and creative activity.”
MEPC is actively engaging with key cultural arts organisations to host a series of installations on site over the next five years as construction of the scheme progresses.
Posted: Monday, October 08, 2007
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