Detail View: SHIMMER: Tudor Square

Tudor Square

1991

2009

20th century

Sheffield, South Yorkshire

ENGLAND, UK

DISLEY, Sue

10-1792

Exterior detail: X-shaped mosaic mark in front of the main entrance to the theatre. Location: Tudor Square. [Photographed in 2009 before the reovation of the Square and relocation of the mosaics. Tudor Square: Comment written on the creation of the original Square as an artwork in 1991: "Tudor Square is a recent invention. It had been an unfocused open space, oddly left between buildings of civic pride and purpose. The space had long been used as a car park. Creation of a square was undertaken when the city took stock of its image prior to the World Student Games in 1991. It was conceived as an arts square. This focus was sensible as the space opened up on all sides to buildings where performances, exhibitions, entertainment took place. The restoration of the Lyceum Theatre was already under consideration. Tudor Square is not a square in the sense of it being an open space of that shape. It is actually a grassed oval which, on a sloping site, creates a flat stage for performances, for displays, for strolling round. The oval is bound by a low stone wall upon which a very intricately placed sequence of marks are carved. Paul Mason, Lead Artist for the project, has said that what was "fundamental to all the practices (in the area) was communication" and that "mark making was fundamental to communication". This became the aesthetic for the square. Marks by which man communicates are found not only on the wall, but form the basis of the design for the tree grilles and railings also in the square. Into the pavement Sue Mason has also set a number of fluid marks. These mosaics were to help orientation in the square. Text taken from 'Going Public' by Dr Elizabeth Norman, 1995. The mosaics are composed of marble tesserae set into metal frames which are laid into the paving of the square. They vary in size and shape. The marks are unreadable, treated more like brush strokes which suggest movement and direction. In their original configurations the marks indicated areas of focus to give a sense of the site to the pedestrian. X-shaped marks indicated the Ruskin Gallery, the Crucible and the Lyceum Theatres. A collection of lines in front of the Lyceum were placed to indicate a potential performance area. This original meaning has been lost. Commission: Sheffield City Council, funded by the J.G. Graves Charitable Trust. Most of the original artworks and landscape design of the 1991 Tudor Square development were removed when the space was re-designed (2009-2010). The only artworks retained were these paving mosaics by Sue Mason (now Sue DISLEY), which were were re-sited close together near the door to the Crucible Studio, and the Boulsover Monument by Richard PERRY. The Lyceum (Architect: W.G.R. SPRAGUE, 1897) was renovated 1988-1990 by RENTON HOWARD WOOD LEVIN (RHWL ARCHITECTS).

© Sheffield Hallam University

For educational use only. This image may be used in print or digital materials provided that full acknowledgment is given, expressed as follows: " © < insert details from the 'Rights' field >. Photographed by < insert details from the 'Photographed by' field >."

Tudor Square Artworks. For more information see also < http://public-art.shu.ac.uk/sheffield/maso52.html >.

Amparo Cozar

DISLEY, Sue

Artist.

Male.

British.

MASON, Paul

1952

2006

Lead artist.

Male.

British.

Urban renewal -- England -- Sheffield

City squares -- England -- Sheffield

Mosaics