The latest spider to wow the crowds in Capital of Culture, Liverpool, will be an eye-catching crystal chandelier spider, which is being added as the finishing touch to the citys Web of Light art installation project built by Basingstoke-based contractor, J & J Carter.
Designed by Al Weiwei, the consultant artist for the 2008 Olympics Birds Nest stadium in Beijing, the Web of Light is the latest in a show-stopping series of cultural events taking place in Liverpool. J & J Carter has constructed the web using 400 metres of stainless steel cables, to which LED lighting will be added. The web spans the width and length of the citys Exchange Flags square and took less than 4 weeks to complete, with the contractor taking the challenges of carrying out works in the heavily pedestrianised area in their stride.
The artist Al Weiwei is renowned for taking everyday, familiar objects and translating them into large scale iconic installation pieces, commented J 7 J Carters contracts director Robert Carter. In this instance the spider and its web are truly breathtaking, and we are pleased to be involved in such a high profile project.
The 19 metre high structure spanning Exchange Flags, the largest pedestrianised square in Liverpool, is part of the citys Biennial festival. Liverpool Biennial is the UKs largest and most widely reviewed festival of contemporary visual art, commissioning large scale projects for the public to enjoy each year.
Robert Carter added: J & J Carter has been designing and manufacturing architectural fabric structures and steelwork for over 30 years and have often been commissioned to design and manufacture unusual structures, such as 43 metre tall tri-sail structure that forms the landmark Gateway to Portsmouth city. The spiders web is definitely one-of-a-kind, however, and its a privilege to be involved in such a high profile project, with such an eminent artist as part of Liverpools Capital of Culture programme.
A spokesperson at Arup, who appointed J & J Carter, commented at the completion of the project, From a design point of view this was an extremely challenging piece of engineering design and we had to have complete confidence in the manufacture and erection which we did get from J & J Carter. Also the programme was incredibly tight and from when we first approached them very late in the day they did deliver to the project deadlines.