- New book, documenting how an abandoned factory became a once in a lifetime art experience created by a world renowned street artist, has been launched
- Phlegm: Mausoleum of the Giants captures how an abandoned cutlery works in Sheffield was transformed into a place of mystery and magic by the world famous street artist Phlegm
- Thousands of visitors ventured to the exhibition, often queuing for more than four hours to see the final resting place for a giant group of fantastical creatures
- New book enables audiences to experience the creations for one last time
A new book documenting how an abandoned factory became a once in a lifetime art experience created by a world renowned street artist, has been launched.
Between 15 March and 6 April 2019 an abandoned Cutlery Works in Sheffield was transformed into a place of mystery and magic. Eyewitness Works became the vehicle by which the artist known as Phlegm spent five months in situ secretly creating a physical world for his fantastical creatures, a final resting place for the Mausoleum of the Giants, with support from the University of Sheffield.
Now an incredible photographic record of both the exhibition and the exhaustive physical process involved has been released as a visual record of the journey.
During the three-week installation, over 12,000 visitors queued for up to four hours with people travelling from as far away as New York, Italy and Norway to witness the marvel of the Giants.
No words could describe the impact of the macabre solemn creatures laying in situ in the abandoned courtyard presided over by a Guardian, but the new visual archive has captured the experience for audiences to enjoy once again.
Working in association with the University of Sheffield, designed by Human Studio and featuring the photography of Chris Saunders, Phlegm: Mausoleum of the Giants, is available for a limited time period from the Millennium Gallery in Sheffield from 11 to 23 December 2020.
The book is also available online through the artist’s website but copies can only be purchased in person through Museums Sheffield where limited amounts of signed copies are available.
Professor Vanessa Toulmin, speaking on behalf of the Mausoleum of the Giants Production Team praised the spirit of solidarity, community and collaboration of the city as a main factor of the success of the exhibition.
Professor Toulmin said: “Together all of us, the 100 plus volunteers, staff, production team and artist crew who worked on this exhibition brought Phlegm back. This is his gift to the city he called home for 15 years, a once in a lifetime never to be repeated experience of truly gigantic proportion. This book brings it all back and we are delighted to support the publication of this final part of the journey – a fitting epitaph to the Giants and to the genius of the artist who created them.”
Phlegm said: Sheffield gave so much to this project it just wouldn’t have worked anywhere else… it was Sheffield that made the mausoleum what it is”
The book is available now at Sheffield’s Millennium Gallery shop, open 10am-4pm on Monday to Saturday until 23 December: https://www.museums-sheffield.org.uk/museums/millennium-gallery/home
The book is also available through the artist’s website:
https://phlegmcomic.myshopify.com/ and retails at £18.00.
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