Great Yarmouth sculpture trail takes shape in Norfolk town

But when award-winning sculptor Alex Lidagovsky arrived as a refugee in the UK, he was determined to carry on working.

And now, staying true to that promise, the 64-year-old has visited a Norfolk town to oversee the installation of a sculpture he created for a new public art trail.

Mr Lidagovsky was forced to leave Kyiv with his family after the Russian invasion in 2022.

Burnt out cars in Kyiv, Ukraine, following shelling by Russian forces in February 2022. (Image: Vitaliy Rulyov/PA Media) Since then, he has been granted membership into the prestigious Royal Society of British Artists and has continued creating sculptures.

Among the pieces is the seven-metre ‘Tightrope Walker’ – which will form part of the new trail due to open next month in Great Yarmouth.

The artwork was made in Kyiv and shipped to the UK via Germany before Mr Lidagovsky travelled from London to assemble the sculpture on Trafalagar Road, in the grassed area west of Marine Parade.

The sculpture ‘Tightrope Walker’ when it was being manufactured in Kyiv. (Image: Great Yarmouth Borough Council)

‘HARMONY AND BALANCE’

Mr Litagovsky said: “Circus, for me, has always been primarily associated with acrobats performing at great heights. 

“Walking on a tightrope epitomises the highest level of harmony and balance. And the sculpture represents a silhouette figure on a tightrope.” 

The vertical position of the tightrope walker figure will be maintained by a counterweight – which also serves as a ‘sail’ propelling the figure into motion with the wind – creating the illusion of a real acrobat.

READ MORE: A look at two sculptures in St George’s Park in Great Yarmouth

The sculptures will provide a free outdoor gallery and circular walking route from the Market Place to the seafront, taking in St George’s Road and Park, Regent Road and Church Plain.  

Each artwork will have an interpretation board for people to learn more and installation of all the pieces is on target to be completed by the end of May. A free map of the trail will also be available to guide people round. 

An official opening event is being planned for next month to mark the completion of the trail, with full details set to follow. 

The installation of the new sculpture ‘Tightrope Walker’, by Ukrainian artist Alex Lidagovsky, on Trafalgar Road in Great Yarmouth. (Image: Great Yarmouth Borough Council)

AWARD-WINNING ARTIST

There are about 15 of Mr Lidagovsky’s public artworks on the streets of Kyiv and his pieces have also been showcased at the Winter Sculpture Park in Bexley in south-east London.  

He also recently won one of the five residency prizes for indoor sculpture at Lucca Biennale Cartasia in Italy – the biggest event in the art world for paper art and architecture – and has just won a commission for an installation in New Jersey, USA.

Councillor James Bensly, portfolio holder for tourism, culture and coastal management at Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said: “Alex’s family, and the whole of Ukraine, have suffered as a result of the terrible invasion of their country and it is a privilege for our borough to play host to the work of such a well-respected international artist.”

A sculpture of Black Beauty by the artist Lois Cordelia being installed outside Anna Sewell House Museum in Great Yarmouth. (Image: Great Yarmouth Borough Council)  Project manager, Tracey Read, unwraps one of the artworks, The Juggler by Rutter and Bennett, part of the project to put art around Great Yarmouth. (Image: Denise Bradley)

‘OUR FANTASTIC PUBLIC ART TRAIL’

Great Yarmouth’s trail has 11 sculptures – focusing on themes of maritime and medieval history, arts heritage, seaside, transport and energy. 

The trail also features a 12th artwork – a section of tiled paving outside Christchurch created by Great Yarmouth’s Reprezent Project to reflect the cultural impact of the town’s Portuguese community. 

Mr Bensly said: “We are delighted Alex is contributing Tightrope Walker to our fantastic public art trail. 

The £330,000 project has been funded by the government via Town Deal finance, with the money being ring-fenced for use only on the sculptures, which are intended to create a major new cultural asset for the town. 

The council also secured an additional £50,000 of government Future High Streets funding to commission a sculpture called Yarn with Ernie which has now been installed as part of the improvement works at the Market Place.