Artist Alex Chinneck Unveils Surreal Street Furniture Sculptures in Bristol City Centre

Surreal sculptures depicting street furniture have been installed as part of celebrations for the inauguration of new city centre workspaces. The three new artworks, created by Kent-based artist Alex Chinneck, are situated outside the recently opened Assembly Bristol workspaces, close to Temple Meads Station. Comprising a knotted post box, a twisted phone box, and a pair of knotted lampposts, the pieces are cast in metal, with the phone box lighting up after dark. Mr. Chinneck expressed his appreciation for Bristol’s “creative spirit” and his enthusiasm for the concept of bringing “moments of magic” to its thoroughfares. The artist stated his desire for the sculptures, which required four years to complete, to be seen and “hopefully enjoyed” by the widest possible audience. He remarked, “Assembly Bristol is a large site with various vantage points and entry points.” He added, “I like the idea of creating a series that welcomes you to different locations rather than one artwork.” “It’s the first time we’ve made functional art and we’re really pleased and excited about them,” he commented. He also noted, “They have playful simplicity.” Mr. Chinneck further commented that Bristol’s “artistic heritage” narrative does not “begin and end with graffiti.” “I loved working in Bristol, it’s such a nice city to operate in and has a fantastic creative energy,” he stated. He concluded by saying, “The artworks are not mine anymore, they’re for other people to see, enjoy and interpret as they please.” Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.