The Lovely People arrives in Birmingham - 10/11/10

An iconic national art installation arrives in Birmingham this week, as Temper’s ‘The Lovely People’ opens at The Cube.

The award winning, critically acclaimed West Midlands graffiti artist, Temper, was specially commissioned to create The Lovely People - a family of sculptures which will take up permanent residence in the central courtyard at The Cube.

Inspired by the people of Birmingham, the installation features seven life-size bronze figures of local people whose stories have been immortalised by the artist,paving a new way for public art to be created and showcased.

The people behind the figures include a West Midland’s firefighter who won a George Cross medal, a woman who survived the Holocaust, a Prince’s Trust counsellor and one of Birmingham’s most well-known businessmen.

Neil Edginton, director at The Cube comments: “Temper’s West Midlands roots are well documented so it is only natural that he should be showcasing his latest work on home ground and we’re immensely proud that it is at The Cube given his global status.

“Not only do the sculptures provide a permanent focus to Wharfside Street, which runs through the centre of The Cube, but they also capture an imaginative set of stories inspired by the people of Birmingham.”

Having secured his reputation as a graffiti artist, Temper has gone on to work with worldwide names such as Saatchi & Saatchi and Coca Cola. The imaginative Lovely People is his first piece of sculpture work, inspired by the ‘jewellery box’ concept of The Cube, and which he describes as “putting the diamond into the jewellery box”.

Temper adds: “The Lovely People has been a fantastic creative journey during which time I’ve had the opportunity to hear many fascinating stories from people in the region and explore the exciting world of architecture and sculpture.

“The piece is about measuring people on the size of their hearts, not on their physical appearance. On each sculpture I have designed the hearts so you can see your own reflection in them, so people are seeing themselves in every ‘lovely person’.”

Each figure was cast in bronze at Castle Fine Arts Foundry near Oswestry, which is also well-known for working with other public artist’s such as Anthony Gormley and Lorenzo Quinn.

Temper adds: “I truly believe that this public art will quickly becomea visitor attraction for Birmingham and I’d like to invite people from around the world to come and meet The Lovely People. I hope that the public welcome them into their own hearts, as the stories behind the sculptures are very valuable to us all.”

As a visionary scheme, The Cube marks a key milestone in the city’s architectural development, building on Future Systems’ iconic Selfridges building and paving the way for Mecanoo’s Library of Birmingham and the redevelopment of Birmingham New Street station.

The installation is now available to be discovered and visitors are invited to come and meet The Lovely People and all The Cube has to offer.

To find out more and to view a teaser image Click Here

To find out more information about Temper please visit: www.temper-art.com  or www.thelovelypeople.com