Art Crawling - Leicester University

As I've mentioned on here previously, there's little I like more than exploring Modern Sculpture in all its wild and wacky forms. All the better if it's public art, as epitomised by the kind of modern art that was introduced for our betterment in the white heat of post-war rebuilding. Civic art designed for the people by some of the foremost artistic minds of the time. Sadly much of this is now gone, vandalised, removed from display, worse still destroyed. Sadder still given that there seems to be so little appetite (or available funds) for commissioning new examples of public art from our cash-strapped councils, so more often than not it's fallen to our seats of learning to champion the cause of publicly accessible modern art in the 21st century.

Loughborough University has certainly led the way in supporting modern sculptural art, their impressive Sculpture Trail is something of a jewel in the crown of public art in the East Midlands, albeit one that few of us seem to be aware of. Having spent a wonderful afternoon exploring the campus earlier this year (see here), I felt sure there must be something similar in the grounds of Leicester University.

In fact I knew there was something to be found, given that as a youth I frequently lounged with friends on the Henry Moore sculpture 'Oval With Two Points' that sat on the lawn at the front of the Fielding Johnson Building, or at least it did until it was 'borrowed' by the Henry Moore Foundation in the mid-80's and never returned! The space is now occupied by the equally impressive bronze sculpture Souls by Helaine Blumenfeld (detail, right).

I went for a walk to the campus with the Baldessa 1a and a roll of Fuji Color 200, choosing the day after graduation when all the students had gone home. So other than a few staff and workers I had the whole site to myself, ideal for exploring the nooks and crannies of the campus for notable artworks without the aid of a guide. In truth the main campus is not nearly as expansive as Loughborough's so it was easy enough to spot the handful of sculptures and other artworks on display.

The first subject was the striking Portico for the Adrian Building (top) as viewed from University Road, a familiar sight as it was something we frequently passed on the way to gigs and discos at the Students Union back in the 80's. We thought it had something of the look of an Imperial Star Destroyer from Star Wars.

The first piece of actual sculpture I came across was toward the rear of this building, a bronze entitled 'Life' by Percy Brown (1911-1996), shown here against the backdrop of one of Leicester's most striking landmarks, the grade II listed Engineering Building (above) that's visible for miles around. From there the artworks kept coming...

The Astronomical Clock (1989) on the Rattray Lecture Theatre, designed and constructed by Allan Mills and Ralph Jefferson.

Hands of Freedom (2021) by Vishal Joshi on the face of the Attenborough Seminar Building, a celebration of difference, inclusion and unity.

Eye of Time (2006) by Allan Mills. An Analemma Calendar, the time of the year is indicated by a spot of light projected through a hole in the upper curve at midday.

Flight (2014) by Helaine Blumenfeld at the entrance to the David Wilson Library. Shown here against the Engineering building and monochromed for effect. There is another sculpture by Blumenfeld within the Library building.

The J Building, Wyggeston Queen Elizabeth College. I'd love to tell you more about this striking modern building, but in common with so much public art and architecture, details seem to be something of a secret known only to the few.

The grade II listed Engineering Building, University of Leicester, designed by James Stirling and James Gowan architects. I did cabling work in this and other buildings at the University in the late 80's and have little love for it given that almost all the steel cable ducts were rusted up and in some cases unusable. An extensive refurbishment of the building took place in 2016/17.