Huyton-born artist Andrew Small specialises in public realm sculptural works. This duo of artworks crafted using clever optical illusions appear to move and change as you pass by - whether walking along the platform or travelling past by train.
The figures were shaped by the ideas, stories, and poses of local people who took part in creative photography workshops earlier this year. The result is a pair of artworks that capture the energy of Huyton’s young people.
Andrew Small is an acclaimed artist, lecturer and designer who has created site-specific artworks across the UK. From large-scale sculptures at The School of Tropical Medicine to installations in Henry Moore Square.
Andrew says:
“Having spent three decades collaborating with communities and creating artworks across the country, this commission felt particularly special, given my upbringing in Huyton and ongoing teaching in the area,"
“I wanted to make something unpredictable, something people notice each time they pass. This simple analogue animation offers a playful counterpoint to the mobile phone – its effect shifts with speed, distance, and angle, creating a moment to be discovered and anticipated, and marking out Huyton for both locals and visitors.”
About the process
“On a Saturday afternoon in Spring we set up a white screen as a backdrop in one of the empty shops in Huyton village. Hoping to suggest a sense of theatricality, we invited people of all ages off the street to ‘make shapes’ while I filmed their performances.
To no surprise, many didn’t need much encouragement, and taking their lead, I let the camera roll. The artworks that sit on the platform of Huyton station use just two of the spontaneous responses to the request and reflect the exuberance, talent, confidence and fun of the people of Huyton, for people passing through the station."
- Andrew Small, June 2025
Each piece is made up of multiple images that together produce analogue animations, based on location of the viewer. The animation will move at different speeds depending on the speed you walk by, and your distance from each object.
Free