Comedy Carpet installed in Blackpool
Date uploaded: October 24, 2011
Comedy Carpet installed in Blackpool
After 5 years work and costing £4million, an artwork which spells out over 1,000 comedians' catchphrases and jokes has been completed in Blackpool. The granite and cast concrete work is a 'typographic pavement' covering a space of 1,880 square metres. It has been built into the promenade at the foot of the Blackpool Tower, and features 160,000 individually cut letters ranging in height from a few centimetres to almost a metre. The work was constructed in a former fish factory in Hull.
The artwork was officially opened by comedian Ken Dodd on 10th October, and references Blackpool's rich tradition of hosting comedy performances. In a video on Blackpool Gazette's website, the artist Gordon Young points out that around 80% of the comedians quoted (including Mae West) have performed in the town.
Other comedians quoted in the work include: Matt Lucas, Morecambe and Wise, Tony Hancock, Peter Kay, John Cleese, Kenneth Williams, Spike Milligan and Les Dawson.
To watch the video with an interview by the artist, visit:
http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/lifestyle/legend_unveils_comedy_carpet_1_3857375
