Wakefield Miniatures
Date uploaded: January 29, 2014
A new artwork has been installed at Westgate Station to celebrate Wakefield as a welcoming and creative city. Artists from the Studio of Cinematic Architecture (SOCA) designed the public artwork, which was commissioned by Wakefield Council and East Coast in association with Beam, as a complement to the new £8.5 million mainline station. The Leader of Wakefield Council Cllr Peter Box CBE said: “Developing our cultural heritage has been a key aspect of the city’s regeneration. This artwork complements the new station as gateway to the city and is an innovative way to introduce people to the art and cultural experience Wakefield has to offer.”
The artists have created a field of elevated icons composed of 13 small-scale metal models representing a variety of Wakefield’s well-known and lesser-know buildings to engage visitors, reveal a taster of the cityscape, and help connect the station to the life of city. Gabby Shawcross, SOCA, said “the work will allow visitors and locals to animate and reinterpret the skyline as they walk by.”
SOCA, well known for their innovative interactive installations and public artworks, have been developing the artwork since last summer. Their creative process included an exhibition at the Grade II* listed Orangery, next to the station, which provided an opportunity for the public to give their opinion on a selection of 24 accurately-crafted cardboard models.
The artists were selected with the help of an advisory panel through an open call process attracting around 40 applications from across the UK.
Tim Hedley-Jones, Property & Projects Director at East Coast said: “We are very pleased to have worked with Wakefield Council and Beam to introduce the sculpture at Westgate station. It provides a fitting focal point for the new station building, which is already being well received by the people of Wakefield.”
Robert Powell from Beam said “This is not only a delightful high quality artwork for the city and for everyone who uses the station. It also celebrates Wakefield’s rich built environment, and signals the city as an innovative place with a proud cultural heritage and an exciting contemporary arts offer.”
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