Unique clay figures inspired by Gormley go on show

More than 1,300 clay figures have been made by residents, community groups and businesses in Bridgwater

More than 1,300 unique ceramic figures, each made by a different person, are to go on display.

The installation, inspired by artist Antony Gormley, has been created at a series of workshops for residents, community groups and businesses led by arts charity, Seed, in Bridgwater, Somerset.

Each unique sculpture is meant to represent both the creator's own individuality, and their community.

"People are very excited to go and see the installed figures and try to find the one they made; it really engages people," said Seed director, Scott O'Hara,

The workshops were led by artist Bridget Hemmings, who also devised the project

The workshops were led by ceramicist Bridget Hemmings, who guided participants in the sculpting process.

Inspired by Gormley's Field for British Isles - made of 40,000 terracotta figures sculpted by himself and volunteers - each figure had to be hand-sized, able to stand up, and have eyes.

Connections through art

"Bridget came to us with this idea to have all sorts of people from across the community come together to make a small clay figure that represented themselves.

"We tried to recruit people to the workshops who were experiencing loneliness and social isolation; making art through making connections has been a really important part of this," added Mr O'Hara.

Each clay figure had to be hand-sized, able to stand up and have eyes

The installation, which follows the success of a similar one last year in Cheddar, is opening on 30 August in a pop-up venue in The Angel Place shopping centre in Bridgwater.

Ms Hemmings said: "Running the project, we thought we would start to see figures that looked the same.

But, even now, as we have reached nearly 1,300, each figure is still unique, as we all are.”

The figures will be displayed until 17 September, when the installation will tour other art galleries or community centres in Somerset.