World Class Sculpture Unveiled

22nd July 2008

Categories: Love Middlesbrough, What's New

Tees Valley Regeneration has just announced plans to create the biggest art project in the world - starting in the heart of Middlesbrough.

Tees Valley Giants will be a series of five world-class art installations by internationally acclaimed sculptor Anish Kapoor and leading structural designer Cecil Balmond. The artist and engineer are known for the monumental scale of their work and are two of the most sought after names in the art world. Their works can be seen in prominent locations around the globe including New York, Chicago and Beijing.

The first installation -Temenos will be located at the north-eastern corner of Middlesbrough Dock, Middlehaven. It will cost £2.7m and will be a staggering 110m in length and almost 50m high.

Mr Kapoor, told Middlesbrough's Evening Gazette that when he first came to the Tees Valley and went around the area he found the scale of things exciting.

"Some of the industrial, post industrial and new industrial features are extraordinary and perhaps unique in Europe ... to connect various parts of the area together in one overall masterplan seemed unprecedented. There is nothing like it in the world.

"It seemed it was more ambitious than I am. It is a real challenge," he said.

Mr Kapoor said the area where Temenos would be sited had a long, difficult history particularly in the recent past. "It has been blighted and derelict for so long," he said.

Mr Kapoor said that Temenos would reflect the area's history of manufacturing. The Transporter Bridge also had an influence on the design of the work.

Temenos is funded by government initiative The Northern Way, Regional Development Agency One NorthEast, the Arts Council England, the Northern Rock Foundation, Middlesbrough Football Club and BioRegional Quintain.

A planning application for Temenos will be submitted to Middlesbrough Council shortly.

Sculptures will also be installed at Stockton, Hartlepool, Darlington and Redcar and Cleveland adding up to the biggest public art project anywhere in the world.

Further Information

Tees Valley Regeneration Website

BBC Tees - Temenos Feature

BBC Tees - Temenos Image Gallery

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