Vertical Face

Not a bad day which took me into the town centre. I've had my blip eye on this guy for a while and today was the day. This dramatic work of public art by Rick Kirby, was the choice from a survey of Wigan shoppers during consultation that took place in before its installation.

The idea is that the 4.5m high sculpted stainless steel face is able to be relocated to different parts of the borough.

Rick Kirby is an acclaimed English sculptor best known for more than 25 striking pieces of public art. His previous commissions can be seen at London's South Bank, St Thomas' Hospital, Glasgow, Hastings and many more towns and cities. This is what he had to say about it:

"The face is a play on the many portrait busts of the 'good and the glorious' that adorn the parks and centres of every town and city throughout Britain.

"The sculpted portrait is intended to represent not a single celebrity of the area, but all of the inhabitants of the area, the very people of Wigan. These are the people who make the place what is it today, and indeed have the power to determine what will be its future."

"The layered face and hi-tech blocks also represent the process of regeneration, building layer upon layer a more prosperous and positive future for the landscape, economy and ultimately, and most essentially the people."

It's an impressive piece that looks great in its current location :)