Artist-designer Leeroy New takes over the Social at Aviva Studios as part of The Welcome, with a colourful commentary on consumerism featuring a huge art installation. The sprawling, spaceship-like sculpture takes waste materials and transforms them into a colourful tangle of roots, inspired by the sacred Balete tree of the Philippines.
Made from reclaimed hazel and willow woods that are native to the region as well as plastics found across the city, Balete Spacecraft uses materials from Manchester to highlight a universal issue. At the weekend, the art comes to life with dancers dressed as alien-like creatures wearing parts of the sculpture.