Eco sculpture “arrives home” at ABDO College

Yair Newman (left) with James Conway and Jo Underwood, ABDO College advisor and founding principal

A new sculpture was permanently installed at ABDO College this week.

Conceived and designed by renowned sustainability designer, Yair Neuman, the sculpture of a child – named Heavy-Light – was created from discarded demo lenses and the waste products (swarf) resulting from the production of optical lenses in Millmead Optical Group’s Liverpool factory.

Yair, whose portfolio includes sustainable material innovation in optics, was assisted in the creation of the sculpture project by Hannah Browne, a fine art student at Liverpool John Moores University. It had previously been exhibited at the Open Eye Gallery, on Liverpool’s famous Royal Albert Docks, and at 100% Optical 2023.

Millmead Optical Group CEO, James Conway, said: “I am excited and proud to unveil this statue, which highlights the need to find more sustainable uses for our waste products.

“Solutions find themselves when we confront problems and my hope is that this beautiful artwork, made from discarded demo lenses and lens swarf, will focus many conversations and get people talking about the issues of sustainability in the industry that we all love.”

Yair said at the unveiling: “It’s nice to see the statue in such a relevant place. I think it has arrived home, as this is the core of eyewear education in the country. This statue is for people and inside ABDO College is the best place for it.”