Site Built
solo Exhibition
Blank_, 2o23

Photo and video credit: Ronnie Danaher

Site Built was a kinetic sculptural installation & exhibition exploring the rapid gentrification of Mabgate, Leeds. The exhibition consisted of kinetic sound devices and sculptures made from a deconstructed washing machine sourced from Mabgate and self-built circuitry.

The work is the culmination of a two year period of research, investigating the contemporary landscape of Mabgate & the areas long history of industry, migration & development. Particularly, centring around Mabgate Beck, as a key water & power source of the industries which built up from 1800s & determining the landscape of the area as those buildings continue to be used & repurposed now.

The washing machine parts were developed into instruments through a series of performance workshops (listening walks, score-making & instrument building) with a group of Music Performance students from Leeds City College. As new inhabitants of the area, the students engaged directly with the material of the place, collectively produced new sound work & developed their shared ownership of the local area. These instruments were used to create reinterpretations of the soundscape of Mabgate.

Following these workshops, the artist continued to develop the components into his own kinetic sculptures, re-designed and built into the architecture of the gallery.

Site Built was commissioned by Leeds City College Arts Fund (2021) & exhibited at Blank (2023). The was selected for exhibition in New Contemporaries at South London Gallery & MIMA (2026).