Transforming Heavy Materials into Playful Art: Alex Chinneck’s Latest Sculpture in London

Turning robust, industrial elements like steel and brick into something that feels light and whimsical requires exceptional creativity. British artist Alex Chinneck, renowned for his large-scale urban art projects, excels at reinventing cityscapes and architectural forms into captivating public artworks.

During London’s Clerkenwell Design Week, Chinneck introduced his newest piece, titled “A Week at the Knees,” located in Charterhouse Square. This installation draws inspiration from one of his earlier famous works. Back in 2013, he created “From the Knees of my Nose to the Belly of my Toes” in Margate, where the front facade of an old townhouse appeared to have slipped off entirely. Now on display in London until June, the new sculpture features a framework constructed from 320 meters of recycled steel and 7,000 bricks.

The sculpture whimsically gives life to a traditional Georgian building facade, with its bottom two floors bending and folding over a walkway, resembling a figure sitting with knees drawn up. London’s abundance of lush squares and gardens provides the perfect backdrop for this piece, inviting visitors to walk through a distinctive gateway that echoes the historical character of the neighborhood, complete with original-style downspouts and lamps framing the arched entrance.

Chinneck collaborated with several UK-based manufacturers to custom-make the steel supports, curved window panes, and bricks needed for this artwork. Standing five meters tall and weighing around 12 tons, the sculpture mimics the scale of a real building but is surprisingly thin—only 15 centimeters thick. This contrast creates the illusion of a solid architectural form that feels surprisingly light and elegant.