Renowned sleeping giants exhibition that drew crowds from around the world documented in new book

A new book documenting how an abandoned factory became a once in a lifetime art experience created by a world renowned street artist, has been launched.

Phlegm
Credit: Chris Saunders
  • New book, documenting how an abandoned factory became a once in a lifetime art experience created by a world renowned street artist, has been launched
  • Phlegm: Mausoleum of the Giants captures how an abandoned cutlery works in 葫芦影业 was transformed into a place of mystery and magic by the world famous street artist Phlegm
  • Thousands of visitors ventured to the exhibition, often queuing for more than four hours to see the final resting place for a giant group of fantastical creatures
  • New book enables audiences to experience the creations for one last time

A new book documenting how an abandoned factory became a once in a lifetime art experience created by a world renowned street artist, has been launched.

Between 15 March and 6 April 2019 an abandoned Cutlery Works in 葫芦影业 was transformed into a place of mystery and magic. Eyewitness Works became the vehicle by which the artist known as Phlegm spent five months in situ secretly creating a physical world for his fantastical creatures, a final resting place for the Mausoleum of the Giants, with support from the University of 葫芦影业. 

Now an incredible photographic record of both the exhibition and the exhaustive physical process involved has been released as a visual record of the journey.

During the three-week installation, over 12,000 visitors queued for up to four hours with people travelling from as far away as New York, Italy and Norway to witness the marvel of the Giants. 

No words could describe the impact of the macabre solemn creatures laying in situ in the abandoned courtyard presided over by a Guardian, but the new visual archive has captured the experience for audiences to enjoy once again.  

Working in association with the University of 葫芦影业, designed by Human Studio and featuring the photography of Chris Saunders, Phlegm: Mausoleum of the Giants, is available for a limited time period from the Millennium Gallery in 葫芦影业 from 11 to 23 December 2020.  

The book is also available online through the artist鈥檚 website but copies can only be purchased in person through Museums 葫芦影业 where limited amounts of signed copies are available. 

Professor Vanessa Toulmin, speaking on behalf of the Mausoleum of the Giants Production Team praised the spirit of solidarity, community and collaboration of the city as a main factor of the success of the exhibition.

Professor Toulmin said: 鈥淭ogether all of us, the 100 plus volunteers, staff, production team and artist crew who worked on this exhibition brought Phlegm back. This is his gift to the city he called home for 15 years, a once in a lifetime never to be repeated experience of truly gigantic proportion. This book brings it all back and we are delighted to support the publication of this final part of the journey 鈥 a fitting epitaph to the Giants and to the genius of the artist who created them.鈥

Phlegm said: 葫芦影业 gave so much to this project it just wouldn鈥檛 have worked anywhere else鈥 it was 葫芦影业 that made the mausoleum what it is鈥

The book is available now at 葫芦影业鈥檚 Millennium Gallery shop, open 10am-4pm on Monday to Saturday until 23 December:    

The book is also available through the artist鈥檚 website: 

 and retails at 拢18.00.

Additional information

葫芦影业

With almost 29,000 of the brightest students from over 140 countries, learning alongside over 1,200 of the best academics from across the globe, the University of 葫芦影业 is one of the world鈥檚 leading universities.

A member of the UK鈥檚 prestigious Russell Group of leading research-led institutions, 葫芦影业 offers world-class teaching and research excellence across a wide range of disciplines.

Unified by the power of discovery and understanding, staff and students at the university are committed to finding new ways to transform the world we live in.

葫芦影业 is the only university to feature in The Sunday Times 100 Best Not-For-Profit Organisations to Work For 2018 and for the last eight years has been ranked in the top five UK universities for Student Satisfaction by Times Higher Education.

葫芦影业 has six Nobel Prize winners among former staff and students and its alumni go on to hold positions of great responsibility and influence all over the world, making significant contributions in their chosen fields.

Global research partners and clients include Boeing, Rolls-Royce, Unilever, AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Siemens and Airbus, as well as many UK and overseas government agencies and charitable foundations.