We are in love with our giant bee, which has made its home in Great Northern Square for the summer as part of the Bee in the City public art trail.
With over 80 super-sized bees taking hive in some of Manchester’s most iconic locations, the Great Northern is proud to provide a home to its very own sculpture: “A City Transformed”.
To represent a community famous for its creativity and collaborative spirit, each worker bee sports a unique identity and has been given a colourful makeover by an array of talented local artists.
Talking about her inspiration behind the Great Northern’s sculpture, Helen Russell said: “I wanted the bee’s motif to represent a combination of the city’s history, vibrancy, and practicality. I channelled Bumblebee from Transformers for much of the bee’s underlying design to ensure there was a family focus present, and showcased Manchester’s industrial heritage through the symbols of mechanical engineering painted across the bee’s body. The Great Northern has a huge 52 miles of rivets holding it together so of course I made sure the design gave a nod to this architecture.”
The bee took four hours to design, with the transfer to the sculpture taking nine days. Helen notes she couldn’t have picked a better home for the “A City Transformed” bee.
Called ‘A City Transformed’ it was designed by local artist Helen Russell. From Rochdale, Helen is inspired by the city region’s ongoing regeneration and redevelopment, and is proud of its people’s way of using difficult situations as a catalyst for positive change. Focusing on the famous ‘Bumblebee Transformer’, the design gives a nod to the powerful determination of Manchester people, and highlights the city’s strengths in the technology, digital and animation sectors.