Rugby League featured in an art exhibition at Leeds Town Hall to celebrate the Rugby League World Cup coming to Leeds last night.
On the Edge – the moving body in rugby and sport featured ceramic sculpture by Leeds artist Mandy Long that captured the movement and physicality of sport.
The exhibition included several pieces featuring Rugby League, as illustrated in the video above and was opened by former RLWC star and Leeds Rugby Foundation Development Officer, Keith Senior.
The free exhibition is organised by the Leeds Rugby Foundation Arts programme and funded by Leeds Inspired through Leeds City Council.
Mandy Long’s work is inspired by sports spectating and by photo-journalism. Her figurative sculptures pause time, allowing the viewer to absorb and appreciate the strength and energy of physical movements in the flurry of competitive sports. The exhibition features sportspeople playing rugby, football, and competing in synchronised swimming and gymnastics.
Mandy who is also donating a piece to Leeds Rugby Foundation, commented:
“We work together with the Foundation in the fact I will be donating a piece to them and in return they produce some amazing rugby for us to enjoy in the city of Leeds!”
Doug Sandle, Leeds Rugby Arts Founding Chair, commented: “Leeds Arts was set up to help bring art and sport together and Mandy’s exhibition certainly has done that leading to Rugby League World Cup which comes to Leeds this Friday.”
For more information on Mandy and her work please visit http://www.mandylong.com/.