Michael Pinsky’s 2008 Winter Lights commission Title Author Genre took the form of three animated neon sculptures, each constructed from three signatures placed in three Liverpool neighbourhoods: Garston, Kensington and Kirkdale.

The sculptures entwined symbols and signatures specifically created by each community with existing graffiti tags present in each area. The title of these works referred to a system of textual navigation being usurped by other cyber-search systems, which utilised a process of tagging by the user. Within the work issues of authorship were increasingly blurred, since the artist had appropriated forms already existing in the public realm and reframed them. The process of transforming these marks into neon motifs, creating illuminated sculptures, changed the perceived functions and implications of these designs, pushing the ambiguous relationship they had with their community. For some visitors these may have only seemed to be an abstract or calligraphic shape, but others would have recognised its content and may have even been the author of its form.

Community engagement was an essential element of this commission. Liverpool Biennial worked with each Big Table neighbourhood in developing the final design for the artwork, and residents took part in workshops developed with Michael Pinsky, artist Jemma Egan, ZAP Graffiti and Liverpool Biennial.

Title Author Genre followed the success of Ron Haselden's Animal for 2006 and Franck Scurti’s Liverpool Jackpot for 2007.

In 2007 artist Franck Scurti created Liverpool Jackpot for the same three Liverpool neighbourhoods. Franck Scurti’s investigative approach within communities and his engaging and playful artworks have found a natural home within the neighbourhoods of Liverpool.

Winter Lights until February 2009

Animal, 2006 by Ron Haselden

Rabbit, St James Church, Upper Parliament Street, Toxteth – launches 26 September 2008. In collaboration with St Vincent de Paul Primary School.

Camel, corner of St Mary’s Road and Moss Street, Garston L19. In collaboration with Gilmour Infants School.

Cat, Stanley Street and Great Mersey Street, Kirkdale L5. In collaboration with Hope Valley Community School.

Polar Bear, on C7 building, Prescot Road and Sheil Road junction. In collaboration with Phoenix Primary School.

Liverpool Jackpot, 2007 by artist Franck Scurti

Ideas Cannot be Killed, Uncle J’s Take Away, St Mary’s Road and Clifton St, Garston L19

Hold your Nerve and Think Big, The Stanley Bar, Stanley Street (opposite Cat), Kirkdale L5

Power to the People, Tunnel Antiques, Tunnel Road, Kensington, L7

Google Map with locations of Winter Lights
Winter Lights on Flickr