From August 11 to 16, the town of Blyth in Northumberland will host Playshapes, an award-winning interactive artwork that encourages creativity, imagination, and play. Designed by Leeds-based contemporary artist Pippa Hale, Playshapes consists of large precision-cut foam cubes that can be disassembled into various shapes, including beams, steps, triangles, curved sections, and platforms. Visitors are free to build whatever they imagine, with no instructions or limits, before the next group takes over.
Origins and Inspiration
Playshapes began as an art installation called 'Play Rebellion' in 2019 at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead. It was inspired by the works of renowned sculptor Isamu Noguchi and the educational play objects known as Froebel Gifts, which encourage exploration of shape, colour, and three-dimensional space through open-ended play. The installation was also a response to Hale's own experience as a parent of young children and her frustration with fixed play equipment.
Unlike traditional playgrounds, Playshapes has no fixed design or outcome. The artwork constantly evolves as visitors collaborate to create new structures that are safe to climb and explore. Hale noted, "It's an opportunity for kids to play with colour, form and scale and it's amazing watching children build. Play is an important part of how we develop and learn skills, not just motor skills but also social skills."
Popularity and Impact
The installation was put away two weeks before lockdown but returned to the North East in Eldon Square in summer 2022. It has since appeared at Castle Howard in Yorkshire and a permanent play area at the National Railway Museum in York. Hale remarked, "What surprised me most was how popular it was. At the Baltic there were 45,000 visitors to the installation in three months. When we popped up in Old Eldon Square the slots were timed and there were queues of people who kept coming back day after day. It showed there was a need and a desire for it."
Hale emphasized the importance of families using the space to unleash creativity and physically interact, creating memories and social interactions. She also highlighted the role of location, saying, "It gets people into the town centres, which I believe are vibrant convening spaces to meet people. The more we do that the more we realise we have in common with one another."
Local Support
Mayor of Blyth Town Council, Councillor Mark Peart, said: "We're delighted to bring Playshapes to Blyth as part of our summer programme. It's a fantastic opportunity for families to enjoy free creative play together while experiencing an internationally recognised piece of interactive public art. Every visit will be different because every structure is created by the imagination of the people taking part."
Playshapes will be free and open to all at the Market Pavilion in Blyth from August 11 to 16, with visitors encouraged to drop in, build, play, and let their imaginations take over.
