Huge outdoor artwork to take over Wirral waterfront

One of Europe’s most exciting artists is heading to Wirral waterfront this week to create an extraordinary large-scale mural on ‘The Dips’ in New Brighton.

Saype – who started his career as a graffiti artist – has quickly emerged as one of the hottest names in art and was recently named as one of the 30 most influential people in art and culture under 30 by Forbes Magazines.

This will be Saype’s first major work in the UK and comes straight after his most high-profile commission to date under the Eiffel Tower in Paris, which received international coverage in June.

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His huge artworks – the piece over Wirral waterfront will be in excess of 5,000 sqm – are made by spraying a 100% biodegradable paint made with pigments from chalk and charcoal, directly onto grass to create iconic images best seen from above. Each of the artworks then disappear over a few days.

The commission is being co-produced by Wirral Council and Culture Liverpool and will be inspired by the themes of exploration and discovery which define Wirral’s year as Borough of Culture for the Liverpool City Region.

The artwork will be created on The Dip closest to New Brighton Promenade. While the artwork is being prepared, part of the area will be closed off to the public, although you will be able to watch Saype and his team work before the final image is completed – weather dependent – on Sunday 8 September.

The commission kicks off a September to remember in Wirral which includes the all-new Wirral Food and Drink Festival on Saturday 7 & Sunday 8 September; Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra open air concert on Saturday 7 September and Lightning Seeds, The Christians & China Crisis on Sunday 8 September, all in Birkenhead Park) and the OVO Energy Tour of Britain on Wednesday 11 September (various locations across Wirral).

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Lucy Barrow, Assistant Director for Culture and Visitor Economy at Wirral Council said: “We are so excited about working with Saype. His artworks are awe-inspiring in their size and we can’t think of a more innovative way to showcase the beauty of this stretch of our waterfront to audiences around the world during our Borough of Culture year. It’s been great to build on our relationship with the team at Culture Liverpool through this project and I can’t wait to see the finished image.”

The Borough of Culture initiative was introduced by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and is designed to encourage cultural activities across the region. Visit imaginewirral.com for the latest information.

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