Reviews, Press
Publications

Making a Place

Justin Neal for WHITEWALL, Milton Keynes Contemporary. 2007.

Paul Lewthwaite’s exhibition presents a series of sculptural and object based reliefs, inspired by the urban landscape of Milton Keynes. His work, referenced from maps and plans and aerial photography from Google Earth, has culminated in an urban construction set likened to model kits, childrens building sets and toys.

In a world where the ‘SatNav’ has replaced the traditional map, Lewthwaite’s work reminds us of our ability to navigate, and just how important the building is as an object of navigation and a landmark of place. Lewthwaite asks us to consider what parts of the landscape are artificial or manipulated.

Milton Keynes is the original flat pack city, a series of well-defined grids with ‘made to measure’ precision. Milton Keynes is a place where buildings and culture are commissioned in place, often in isolation and sometimes at odds with their neighbours. The architect’s model reveals a targeted intention of new community, cultural cohesion and a spirit of place; sometimes the actual is socially unfulfilled, cold and removed – the reality being quiet different. Paul’s sculptures reduce the architect’s models to play things, quirky constructions, colourful and engaging – a present to a child this year or an object of adult collection and curiosity.

Paul Lewthwaite has exhibited internationally, including venues in New York, Dallas, Vienna, Madrid, Barcelona and Bergen, Norway. He is an elected Associate of the Royal British Society of Sculptors.