48Sheet Birmingham is a project by EC Arts that quite literally turns advertising billboards into works of art. Running until the 29th April the event will turn Birmingham city into an “urban gallery”.
Up to 100 billboards located around the city will be transformed into large scale art exhibits showcasing work commissioned by regional and national artists all centered around the theme of “cultural curiosity”. The project is designed to spark curiosity in the viewer when they see that billboards normally used to communicate an advertising message and to entice you to buy have now been replaced with more thought provoking pieces of art.
Some of the artists included in this mass billboard take over are…
Ben Long – London (whose billboard artwork can be seen below)
Matt Watkins – Birmingham (View his installation piece in the 48 Sheet Mailbox Project Space)
The full list of artists can be viewed here.
To ensure you don’t miss any of the artwork on show an interactive map is available to track down all of the billboards involved and recommended walking and cycling routes have already been planned so you don’t miss anything. These maps allow you to explore Birmingham’s canals and areas of the city that you wouldn’t normally have the chance or opportunity to see including the Cultural Quarter of Digbeth.
48 sheet has it’s base in a project space at The Mailbox, it’s open Monday – Saturday 10am – 5pm and you can pick up your walking/cycling route while your there. There will also be a whole host of events going on there through the month of April including installations, paintings, artists talks and if your feeling really creative there are workshops where you can really get involved.
Follow the event on Twitter @48SHEET and on Facebook here.
