Mausoleum of the Giants: Phlegm art spectacular in disused factory

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Sheffield favourite Phlegm has opened a new one-man art show in his adoptive city.

Consisting of huge sculptures in his signature black and white style, Mausoleum of the Giants runs from 15 March to 6 April at Eye Witness Works on Milton Street. Entry is free.

"We decided that we should celebrate the artists who are internationally known from Sheffield, but who have never had an opportunity to do a show in their home city," Professor Vanessa Toulmin, Director of City and Culture at the University of Sheffield, told Now Then.

"Two years down the line and suddenly it's happening."

The Grade II-listed Eye Witness Works used to house a manufacturer of cutlery and pocket knives. After the exhibition closes, it will be redeveloped into flats and a cafe-bar.

"We worked with CADS and we asked them to find us a building," said Toulmin. "We looked at a number throughout Kelham Island. There's a few we had our eye on, like the Wards Brewery.

"One of them had a £15,000 clearance bill for pigeon poo, so that wasn't going to happen. Finally we came to this and we asked the artist to come up. He saw it, loved it and said, 'This is it.'"

Partly funded by Arts Council England, the exhibition has also been supported by the Sheffield Culture Consortium and Sheffield City Council.

"I think the whole nature of these buildings which are yards and works and mesters actually show the community quality of Sheffield as a city of makers," Toulmin said.

Volunteers from Sheffield organisations including Sheffield Theatres, Museums Sheffield and Site Gallery will guide visitors around the show throughout its run.

"None of them saw this until yesterday," said Toulmin. "All we said to them is: wrap up warm."

Sam Gregory

Mausoleum of the Giants runs from 15 March to 6 April at Eye Witness Works, Milton Street. Information about opening times is available at mausoleumofthegiants.co.uk