Dotted all over Huyton since early summer, these relief works emphasise a new creative spirit for the village, and cast a tiny bit of new intrigue.
Rooted in the history of Huyton, whilst celebrating the present day development, the new work by Martin Heron is a reminder that moving forwards is a collective process.
I remember the old Asda. I remember the in-shops. And I remember the nothingness that was there for a good while afterwards. In the last few years, Huyton has been transformed. Not always for the better. The greengrocers is gone. The Post Office is subject to fairly constant complaints since it moved from the sorting office, and the old WH Smith’s just doesn’t make sense any more.
But there’s also the new. There’s Make taking over the old cinema. Heart of Glass bringing one of the most important creative operations in the city to Huyton. Murals popping up every other month (some planned, some not).
The village now boasts two galleries, and a revived library coming soon. It’s a different Huyton, but it’s still the same Huyton. It’s still two dogs (that poem that no one knows if it was being racist or critiquing racism). It’s still a bit weird, but it’s home.
Once in a while, it’s nice to be reminded of that spirit, so you know it’s not going to be forgotten when a load of shiny new buildings come in, because it will always be Huyton. Unique in its spirit. Forget Scouse not English. This is Huyton and it doesn’t care if you’re from Liverpool or Knowsley.
The new works, twelve in total, are hidden around the village. Each comes with its own QR code to open its story, and help decipher the code, in a new script developed for the village art works.
The stories share everything from specific social histories of Huntley & Palmers biscuit factory, to Huyton’s allotments, told through objects, not dates or archives.
The allotment plaque, featuring a single hand fork is based on a very specific memory of a project participant called John, who remembers uncovering the fork when clearing his friend’s allotment. Innocuous moments like that are usually held as personal memories. They’re the type of stories you hold dear but never have a reason to share. Hands Around Huyton gave participants a chance to create a new history for the town. One that means more to them that what shops were there, or who did what when.
99% of shoppers will miss these signs. They’re not obvious. They look like they’ve always been there. But for the ones who notice them, or the ones who set out looking, they might offer a breath of proper Huyton. And it’s nice to feel nice about this place.
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Hands Around Huyton is a new permanent work in Huyton Village by Martin Heron
Words, Kathryn Wainwright
