Artist's giant germs take over Blackpool

A set of giant figures inspired by a disabled artist's childhood and memories of the Lancashire seaside have sprung up across a resort.

The larger-than-life exhibition is the work of acclaimed artist Jason Wilsher-Mills MBE, who said the sculptures explore his childhood when he was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition, triggered by contracting chickenpox at 11.

They include colourful inflatable germs, a giant figure lying in a hospital bed watching TV surrounded by oversized plastic toy soldiers as well as Blackpool Rock, a 10ft (3m) sculpture outside the gallery.

The Wakefield-born artist said the exhibition is "about mixing together my memories of hospital" and the Lancashire seaside.

Wilsher-Mills said he drew on his experience of becoming disabled as a child mixed with memories of the seaside including Blackpool where he said he has a special affinity with as his gran ran a boarding house there.

He said: "There's a lot of the seaside in the pieces – even the lights on the sculptures are the same ones that are used on seaside fairgrounds."

His Blackpool Rock artwork is inspired by the time Wilsher-Mills spent in the Tower Ballroom watching the ballroom dancers as part of his research.

The Wakefield-born artist said he has a great affection for Blackpool.

"I have got a lot of affinity with the resort, my grandma even ran a boarding house in Blackpool years ago."

Blackpool Council leader and cabinet member for tourism, arts and culture, councillor Lynn Williams, said of the exhibit: "Grundy Art Gallery's mission to bring world-class art to the people of Blackpool continues with the wonderful Jason Wilsher-Mills MBE."

Grundy Art Gallery is owned and operated by Blackpool Council and forms part of its arts service.

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