Duo's new art put on show at Towneley Hall (From Burnley and Pendle Citizen)

Duo's new art put on show at Towneley Hall

5:00pm Friday 18th January 2013 in News By Chris Gee, Reporter

TWO international artists are set to exhibit their sculptures representing the ever-changing face of Burnley.

During 2011 and 2012 the town went under the microscope as well-known duo Londoner Simon Grennan and American Christopher Sperandio developed sculptural work aiming to reflect the life of the town.

Towneley Hall in partnership with Creativity Works invited the artists to make seven new sculptures, which brought together items chosen from the hall’s collections, and things unearthed or commissioned by the artists in Burnley itself.

Over a year-long period, the sculptures were exhibited individually in the Burnley Room at the hall.

Starting next Friday, the seven sculptures will be displayed together for the first time. The artworks include a version of the Burnley coat of arms, a 19th Century bronze statue of a women struggling with a quilt and the bust of a women wrapped in a veil of beads.

Artist Simon Grennan said: “I’d sum up Burnley in the following words ‘funny, profound, engaging, historic and cutting edge’. The new sculptures mean to reflect these things.

“They are enigmatic, funny, provocative and sensible. We hope that both residents and visitors alike will find something that they can recognise, presented in a new way.”

Coun John Harbour, Burnley Council’s Executive member for leisure and culture said: “This exhibition is an excellent opportunity to see all the pieces on display together and we know it will get people talking, we hope it encourages people to come to Towneley and see what it’s all about.”

The works were funded through a Grants for the Arts award from Arts Council England.

The exhibition is on display from next Friday until Wednesday, February 27.