Artist Alex Chinneck Introduces Whimsical Wavy Sculpture That Resembles a Brick House Leaning into a Sitting Posture
Title: Alex Chinneck’s Surreal Facade “A Week at the Knees” Warps Perception at Clerkenwell Design Week
In a remarkable blend of design and deception, British artist Alex Chinneck has revealed his newest public sculpture at Clerkenwell Design Week in London. Entitled A Week at the Knees, this standalone installation delivers a playful and enchanting experience to Charterhouse Square, encouraging onlookers to rethink their views on urban architecture.
A Stunning Facade with a Surreal Flair
A Week at the Knees towers at four stories and echoes the classic facades of the adjacent Georgian buildings. Yet, the structure seems to defy gravitational principles — the brickwork undulates and cascades downward like a textile, resting elegantly at ground level as an archway. This archway permits spectators to stroll beneath the sculpture, transforming it into an engaging experience both visually and physically.
This flowing brick edifice evokes the artist’s 2013 endeavor From the Knees of My Nose to the Belly of My Toes, where a house’s front facade appeared to glide off its base. In his Clerkenwell installation, Chinneck advances his inquiry into surreal transformations of recognizable architectural shapes.
Where Design Encounters Creativity
Alex Chinneck is celebrated for his mind-bending interpretations of commonplace structures and materials. With A Week at the Knees, he upholds his legacy of fusing art, engineering, and architecture to inspire both awe and contemplation. The piece is artfully misleading — at first glance, it resembles a genuine building sagging under its own mass, yet it is actually a meticulously crafted illusion.
Composed of over 7,000 hand-placed bricks, custom curved windows, a genuine drainpipe, stone details, and a sturdy door, the facade encapsulates all the architectural nuances of a typical London row house — except in this instance, the structure twists and contorts against architectural conventions.
Despite its ethereal look, the installation weighs in at a surprising 12.6 tons. Its seeming lightness is attributed to the mere 6-inch depth of the facade, secured structurally by a central steel framework. In a poetic acknowledgment of change, this internal frame is built from repurposed steel sourced from the former American Embassy in London, adding an additional layer of historical significance to the piece.
Engagement Through Creativity
More than a mere visual treat, Chinneck’s creation encourages public participation. The open archway invites viewers to navigate beneath and around the facade, urging them to observe the piece from various perspectives. Through this engagement, Chinneck motivates the public to reconnect with the often-ignored artistry of everyday structures and to reflect on the built environment in a more imaginative and appreciative manner.
By transforming static architecture into something lively and sculptural, Chinneck blurs the boundaries between functional space and artistic expression. A Week at the Knees taps into a childlike sense of play while also offering profound reflections on how architecture influences our understanding of space, history, and locality.
On Display Through June
A Week at the Knees will be showcased in London’s Charterhouse Square until the end of June 2024, providing visitors with plenty of opportunities to admire the installation and contemplate its significance. Whether you’re an art enthusiast, architecture aficionado, or just an inquisitive bystander, Chinneck’s work guarantees an unexpected and delightful interaction with the built environment.
About the Artist
Alex Chinneck has achieved global acclaim for his large-scale public artworks that frequently integrate surreal illusions into architectural realities. His previous works feature a twisted spiral staircase in Covent Garden, a functioning grandfather clock knotted into a loop, and the “unzipping” of a facade in Milan. Through his inventive alterations of everyday materials, Chinneck relentlessly challenges the limits of urban sculpture.
For more information on Alex Chinneck’s work, visit his official website or follow him on Instagram.
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All images by Charles Emerson (unless otherwise noted). Featured with the permission of Alex Chinneck.
🡆 Visit www.alexchinneck.com | Follow @alexchinneck on Instagram
Clerkenwell Design Week remains a center for creative innovation, and with installations like Chinneck’s, it highlights the meaningful dialogues that art and architecture can inspire in public settings.