3D street art inspired by ITU World Triathlon Series will create illusion in Leeds city centre

An eye-catching piece of triathlon-inspired 3D street art is set to make a big splash among shoppers in Leeds city centre today.
The Victoria Quarter, Leeds. Picture by Mark Bickerdike.The Victoria Quarter, Leeds. Picture by Mark Bickerdike.
The Victoria Quarter, Leeds. Picture by Mark Bickerdike.

To mark one month to go until the Columbia Threadneedle World Triathlon Leeds, art collective Media Gang have designed a piece that creates the illusion of the ground opening up to reveal a glimpse of the Waterloo Lake pontoon with triathletes diving off into the water.

The artwork, which celebrates the June 11 and 12 triathlon weekend, will be unveiled at the Victoria Quarter today and passersby are being encouraged to ‘dive in’ and pose for a photo until Monday May 15.

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Meanwhile swimming caps will be popping up in shop windows across the city centre today and, using clues from the @LeedsTriathlon Twitter account, the first person to locate the hidden golden swimming cap and post a picture of it with #WTSLeeds and #TriForGold will win a pair of grandstand tickets.

A trio of life-size Lego sculptures of triathletes will also go on display at Leeds shopping centres this month.

Leeds City Council leader, Coun Judith Blake, said: “This piece of street art looks very striking and captures the drama and excitement of the start of the race.

“Over the next three days this work of art will be a visitor attraction in its own right, so I would encourage as many people as possible to see it for themselves to get in the mood for the big day.”

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The Columbia Threadneedle World Triathlon Leeds, organised by British Triathlon in partnership with Leeds City Council, will see the world’s best triathletes take on a gruelling course on June 12.

Competitors including Leeds’ own Olympic stars the Brownlee brothers will take on a 1.5km swim in Roundhay Park, a 41.5km bike ride from Roundhay to the city centre and a 10km run around the streets of Leeds.

For further information visit leeds.triathlon.org.