Ben Long Sculpture

Sculptor Ben Long uses scaffolding poles and a spanner to create giant metal menagerie

An artist has created a menagerie of enormous animals - made entirely of scaffolding. Ben Long, 33, spent months in Lancaster building a larger-than-life dog, stag and horse out of metal poles and screws. The sculptures, which measure an incredible 30ft high, each took three weeks to build using a scaffolding spanner and a further six months to perfect.

Ben said he was inspired by working for his building site manager dad as a teenager and learned his technique from an old scaffolder he found in the Yellow Pages.

It took him two years to develop his ideas in a studio, selling off his scale models that weight about one ton each to art collectors to fund the equipment he needed. Remarkably, considering the work that goes into them, Ben only leaves the sculptures up for around six months before dismantling them to use in his next project.

Ben, from Lancaster, said he was inspired to choose and design the statues by famous animals in art and literature.

Ben, 34, said: "There is a current debate about what kind of monuments and sculptures are worthy of appearing in our towns and cities."

"Its been suggested that most people are perhaps tired of seeing the usual generals on horseback memorialised in bronze for ever more."

"I suppose I am offering an alternative - monuments that reflect the change and evolution that the urban environment is constantly subjected to."

"I think these animal subjects imply beauty, power, freedom, loyalty, grace, all positive attributes we associate with the human condition."

"When I decide what sculpture to make, these kind of things are a consideration, along with how well they can be graphically transcribed into the scaffolding medium without becoming illegible as images."

"Usually when people see the scaffolding sculptures their reactions range from surprise and delight to amusement and bewilderment."

"The imposing scale is obviously a factor in processing the artwork, so often people walk around the sculptures and stand back from them at different angles."

"All the scaffolders I have met have responded enthusiastically, and I suppose they would be the most critical art audience."