'A Celebration of Engineering Sciences' relief mural, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds

Sculptural relief. 1963, designed by Allan Johnson, fabricated by Alec Dearnley. Glass fibre reinforced polyester (GFRP). Located on the Mechanical Engineering Department building (1957-c1963 by Lanchester & Lodge), which does not form part of this List entry.

DESCRIPTION: the curved 21.3m (70 ft) sculptural relief is attached at first-floor level to the front of a projecting lecture theatre for the Mechanical Engineering Department on Woodhouse Lane. It has a curved concrete frame into which eleven vertical panels of varying widths are set. The pierced relief panels are constructed of glass fibre reinforced polyester (GFRP) coloured grey to match the tone of the concrete with a black background set behind to emphasize the forms. Each panel has thin side frames, forming a vertical grid within the concrete frame, and contain bold sculptural abstract forms with an underlying framework of thin horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines. Though abstract, there is a clear suggestion of rudimentary link mechanisms. The surface retains the appearance of the worked clay from which the mould was made, emphasising the man-made nature of these forms.