We spoke to Leeds-based artist Pippa Hale about her latest work, Ribbons, and why it was needed in the city.
Ribbons is the newest permanent art feature in Leeds, created by artist Pippa Hale, who has lived in the city for over 30 years. The sculpture is located at the top of the gardens between Leeds City College’s Quarry Hill campus and Leeds Playhouse and has been created to celebrate the women of Leeds and their achievements in making the city what it is today.
Ribbons comprises of five steel ribbons each carrying the names of 383 nominated Leeds women. As they rise up out of the ground, they become intertwined and tied together over space and time in a celebration of womanhood that is embedded into the fabric of the city.
Pippa was chosen to create the sculpture after responding to a callout in the Yorkshire Evening Post, she tells us: “The path was beaten by MP Rachel Reeves working with Leeds Arts University – with Leeds City Council and Leeds City College coming on board as partners. Ribbons was born to address the gender disparity in public art in the city; there was an acknowledgement that what we had in Leeds wasn’t balanced and representative of the contemporary city.
“Rather than me deciding who the women should be, there was a nomination process which was opened up to the public for them to choose a woman with a connection to Leeds to be on the sculpture. We received over 600 nominations, but once we’d narrowed down those who had received multiple, we were able Ribbons is the newest permanent art feature in Leeds, created by artist Pippa Hale, who has lived in the city for over 30 years. The sculpture is located at the top of the gardens between Leeds City College’s Quarry Hill campus and Leeds Playhouse and has been created to celebrate the women of Leeds and their achievements in making the city what it is today.
Ribbons comprises of five steel ribbons each carrying the names of 383 nominated Leeds women. As they rise up out of the ground, they become intertwined and tied together over space and time in a celebration of womanhood that is embedded into the fabric of the city.
Pippa was chosen to create the sculpture after responding to a callout in the Yorkshire Evening Post, she tells us: “The path was beaten by MP Rachel Reeves working with Leeds Arts University – with Leeds City Council and Leeds City College coming on board as partners. Ribbons was born to address the gender disparity in public art in the city; there was an acknowledgement that what we had in Leeds wasn’t balanced and representative of the contemporary city.
“Rather than me deciding who the women should be, there was a nomination process which was opened up to the public for them to choose a woman with a connection to Leeds to be on the sculpture. We received over 600 nominations, but once we’d narrowed down those who had received multiple, we were able to include every woman that was put forward which is fantastic. There’s such a breadth and depth of inspiring women included, it’s gobsmacking!”
With statues usually created to honour historical figures, Pippa wanted Leeds to be different and give recognition to the women from both the past and present: “When I was selected to produce Ribbons in 2018, there were a lot of sculptures going up in other cities to celebrate women. However, they were usually a figurative statue that generally focused on a single woman from history and that statue came to represent all women. The challenges that everyday women have overcome to do what they do is so inspiring. Acknowledgement of the contribution they’ve made to the city – no matter how big or small – is really important.”
There are women from the community that are represented in Ribbons for a whole range of reasons, whether it’s for their inspiring stories or making a difference to others. There are Homeless Street Angels founders, Becky and Shelly Joyce; refugee and member ofHolocaust Survivors’ Friendship Association, Liesel Carter; lifelong volunteer, Reeva Gordon; authors of From the Leylands to Leeds 17, Philippa Lester and Diane Saunders, and many more!
“The challenges that everyday women have overcome to do what they do is so inspiring. Acknowledgement of the contribution they’ve made to the city – no matter how big or small – is really important.”
The structure is constructed of five Corten steel ribbons, a material choice which was a conscious decision for Pippa for more than one reason: “On the one hand, it’s an artwork that’s in the public realm and needed to be extremely robust, so it had to be able to withstand the public, weather, and general city life. But on the other hand, it was a feminist decision to use a material which is often used in the construction industry. Taking a material that is extremely strong – but also very beautiful – to represent the resilience and strength of women was very important. It was both a practical and philosophical choice!”
Pippa believes that public art is a key contributor in helping to give a more balanced representation of history: “We walk past statues all the time, and you might think that people don’t really care about them or don’t notice them anymore. When the Black Lives Matter movement was happening and people began tearing down statues, what that demonstrated to me is that people really do care. Public art says a lot about who we are as a city, and I think it’s important that the historic statuary of men, by men is preserved as that’s what inspired Ribbons in a way – it was created as a counteractive response. If you take away the reference points, it will potentially lower the meaning of the piece.”
For a list and biography of all the women included, visit Ribbons-sculpture-leeds.co.uk