Lydig Construction’s Post

Someone recently asked: how I got into making large steel sculptures & public art projects. A career path it’s rarely a clear picture, it’s not a race, and it’s certainly not always a straight line. Mine has been more like a meandering spiral. I took a longer, less predictable (perhaps more scenic) road, it’s been far from easy but I wouldn’t change a thing. In the first picture I was a carefree 19-year-old working for Beach Signs in Sheffield, this is where it all began. In the second I was 41 at the Hepworth Museum in Wakefield, I’d just won the Northern heat/episode of the Landmark series on Sky Arts. This was and still is the highlight of my career - it galvanised my art practice and all the hard work it took to get here. My first proper job at Beach Signs got me thinking about scale, design and manufacturing, it also enabled me to get on the Industrial Design course at Sheffield Hallam University, which I started 2 years after the photo was taken. The course allowed me to build my technical design and making skills – it laid a path to where I finally ended up today. There have been many twists and turns including a 5 years spell of severe, bedridden illness (that’s another story) - all of which led to this moment, running my own sculpture studio Sapien, here in the heart of the steel city. My advice to my younger self: experiment early, experience lots of different things, meditate everyday, discover what you love and work hard to bring it into existence. Most importantly – never give up and ‘keep dancing’ no matter what life throws at you. Slow & steady wins the race (unless you’re a grey hound of course). #keepdancing #careerpath #thenandnow #whereitallstarted #signage #publicart #placemaking #tellingstories #artwithoutwalls #sitespecific #sculptures #publicrealm #commissions #landmarksculpture #contemporarysculpture #abstractart #cultureenrichment #engagingplaces #sapien #artattheheart

The Bridges of London – Genesis This project aims to highlight the importance of bridges in London, which connect two parts of the city divided by the River Thames. The research focuses on the bridges' structure, age, number, and function in maintaining traffic flow. It also examines their reconstruction over the centuries and their role in history and the present day. Furthermore, the research delves into the influence of bridges on art, particularly painting and photography, and how they have been a source of inspiration to artists over the years. In that project, I photographed bridges in London to showcase how they connect both sides of the river. The differences in structure between both banks and the bridges, as well as the materials used to construct them. I captured 27 bridges within the M25 area that were meant for pedestrian and vehicle traffic but only included ten images in my final portfolio. All the photos were taken using a Hasselblad 500 cm, a medium format analogue camera with a square frame of 6x6. As a result of the square format and the inherent limitations of photographing a panorama, the final image comprises three separate photos of each bridge, which are combined to form a triptych. This project was created to stimulate reflection among those who walk or drive over these bridges daily and those who visit and admire them. How and when were they built? What was the reason for their construction? What is their history? Who walked on them? How did they inspire artists? Is their role only to carry us from one shore to the other?   https://lnkd.in/eA9NBMXs #architecture #architecturephotography #londonarchitecture #bridges #bridgesinlondon #hasselblad500cm

🌨️❄️ WINTER IS HERE ❄️🌨️ Every winter, the fresh snow unveils the true nature of our streets and roads—over-designed for cars, making them faster and more dangerous. It also reveals the immense potential to reclaim space for people and public life. Let's embrace the power of snow to reshape our urban landscapes! ❄️🏙️ 🚸 Have you heard of 'sneckdowns'? It's a fascinating urban design concept where planners leverage snowfall to observe how roads are used by cars and identify unused spaces that can be repurposed for pedestrians. This principle can be applied to public spaces, helping us understand how citizens navigate and interact with their environment. 👇 Check out this fantastic animation and example of a sneckdown created by Oto Ozols! Let's harness the power of snow to drive positive change in our streets, public spaces, and workplaces. ❄️💼

One of my biggest takeaways from architecture school was the ability to develop a narrative through design and visual storytelling. As a personal project through my fifth-year of architecture school, I created a photography book as a way to express my interest in photography through a curated, designed medium that was interesting to me. I saw this as an opportunity to work on a project type that I was passionate about, while on my own timeline. The scope of the project involved the photography, curation, design, sale, and distribution of books to interested buyers - as well as hosting a print sale. Thank you to all who have supported and have followed along at @seenbyseb. The 58 page publication, titled “At the Edge of the Known World'', was shot over the summer months of 2023 in my hometown of Salisbury, MA. I wanted to focus on telling a story about the connections between landscapes, architecture, and institutions through an artistic medium I’ve always had an interest in. Throughout the book, ideas of impermanence are introduced in a variety of ways - through narrative transitions in photographs of out-dated and under-utilized structures, contrasting portraits across age demographics, and through the cyclical nature of the ocean and beach town inhabitants. In my introductory text, I argue that “the camera is both a tool of resistance and a device of embrace towards motion.“ This sums up my goals towards the project, as it serves to present a story about a specific moment in time in a place that is built on inherently unstable ground. #photographybook #selfpublishing #blackandwhitephotography

Today, I'm transporting you to the heart of the English Lake District for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at my latest photoshoot. The star? A magnificent 17th Century house in Netherhouses, brimming with character and traditional features. From the rolling Lakeland fells to the panoramic vistas of Morecambe Bay, this property offers a feast for the eyes. See below for the video documenting the magic that unfolds when history, architecture, and nature converge. #PhotographyJourney #HistoricArchitecture #LakeDistrict"

Transforming the Mundane into Marvelous: Using Creativity and Art to Revitalize Spaces Introduction Creativity and art have the power to transform even the most unappealing places into inspiring and beautiful environments. Here’s how you can use your artistic talents to breathe new life into drab or neglected areas: 1. Murals and Wall Art - Colorful Murals: Brighten up dull walls with vibrant murals that tell a story or reflect the local culture. - Inspirational Quotes: Incorporate motivational quotes into your wall art to inspire passersby. 2. Reclaimed and Upcycled Art - Found Objects: Create sculptures and installations from recycled materials, turning trash into treasure. - Functional Art: Design functional items like benches or planters from old materials, combining utility with aesthetics. 3. Green Spaces - Vertical Gardens: Install vertical gardens to bring a touch of nature to concrete jungles. - Community Gardens: Transform vacant lots into community gardens, providing fresh produce and a sense of community. 4. Interactive Installations - Playful Elements: Add swings, climbing structures, or interactive sculptures to engage people of all ages. - Sound and Light Shows: Use technology to create installations that change with sound or light, adding an element of surprise and wonder. 5. Street Art and Public Sculptures - Graffiti Art: Legal graffiti walls can showcase the talent of local artists and add character to an area. - Public Sculptures: Install sculptures that reflect the community’s identity and serve as landmarks. Video credit goes to its respective owner!

🌨️❄️ WINTER IS COMING ❄️🌨️ Every winter, the fresh snow unveils the true nature of our streets and roads—over-designed for cars, making them faster and more dangerous. It also reveals the immense potential to reclaim space for people and public life. Let's embrace the power of snow to reshape our urban landscapes! ❄️🏙️ 🚸 Have you heard of 'sneckdowns'? It's a fascinating urban design concept where planners leverage snowfall to observe how roads are used by cars and identify unused spaces that can be repurposed for pedestrians. This principle can be applied to public spaces, helping us understand how citizens navigate and interact with their environment. 👇 Check out this fantastic animation and example of a sneckdown created by Oto Ozols! Let's harness the power of snow to drive positive change in our streets, public spaces, and workplaces. ❄️💼

What do you see? And how do you capture it? How you use your camera on vacation is an indicator of your curiosity and point of view. My pictures are never the same as my husband's snapshots. When visiting Versailles last week, it was hard to observe the opulence and elegance of extreme wealth on display when Louis XIV flaunted his passion for collecting art and riches. And square footage. This was his summer palace! When I tired of seeing a portion of the 60,000 paintings at the Palace, this stairwell caught my attention. It reminded me of Harry Potter and M.C. Escher's work. You may remember Escher's work as black and white images that are optical illusions. Stairwells, birds, 3-D cubes, and architectural columns appear to change places, depending on the moment you look at them. His work influenced the field of graphic design. While this photo does not function as an optical illusion, the stairwell is an elegant study in black and white. I can imagine the stairways moving as they did in the Harry Potter movies. If you are inclined to share, I would love to see one of your unique images captured while on vacation. #design #perspective

Antony Cairns @ Sous Les Etoiles Gallery APRIL 25 – JUNE 8, 2024 “Antony Cairns (b. London, 1980) takes photographs at night, using the available light cast by buildings in urban centers like London, Tokyo and Los Angeles. In many cases the structures that he chooses are still under construction, little more than the skeletons of the office buildings and luxury apartments of that they are destined to become. His work is resolutely non-topographic, in the conventional sense in which photography has been used to record spaces, structures and architectural styles. There is more, however, to Cairns’ work than simply his distinctive approach to picturing the urban environment. His is a practice that accepts and embraces the photographic medium in its sophisticated entirety: from the effect use of light on analogue film, through a range of experimental darkroom processes, to an innovative and highly specialized understanding of the supports available to the photographic image in the twenty-first century.” https://lnkd.in/gBwxicq4

📸 5 reasons why Berlin is a favorite destination for photographers: 1️⃣ Rich historical landmarks: The Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Wall, and Checkpoint Charlie offer visually striking sites where history meets the present. 2️⃣ Vibrant street art: Berlin's walls are canvases for world-class street art. The East Side Gallery and Kreuzberg are especially popular spots for photographers. 3️⃣ Diverse architecture: From the classical Reichstag to the modern Berlin Hauptbahnhof, the city’s mix of old and new provides endless photography opportunities. 4️⃣ Lively urban life: Neighborhoods like Prenzlauer Berg and Neukölln are full of unique characters, markets, and stylish cafes—perfect for street photography! 5️⃣ Beautiful parks and nature: The city’s green spaces, like Tiergarten and Tempelhofer Feld, offer serene landscapes ideal for nature and landscape photography. #Berlin #Photography #Travel #StreetArt #Architecture #UrbanLife #Nature #History #ExploreBerlin