Stag scaffolding sculpture appears on Elephant building site

The sculpture by Ben Long has been placed on the Oakmayne Plaza site at the junction of New Kent Road and Elephant Road by the Kennington-based Man&Eve gallery

"It is my intention to create artworks that engage with people who might otherwise have little or no involvement in the visual arts," explains artist Ben Long.

"I want to extend the boundaries of where art can be seen and how it can make people feel. With this project, my ambition has been to make an iconic artwork which functions as a surprising and integral part of people's daily lives."

The sculpture – originally intended for the centre of the northern roundabout at the Elephant & Castle – has been installed on the former HR Owen Volvo dealership site where developers Oakmayne plan to build more than 300 homes, a student residence, a cinema and new shops.

The Oakmayne Plaza scheme was endorsed by Southwark's planning committee last December but is still awaiting definitive planning permission.

'Stag' will remain in Elephant Road for the next two months. In July the sculpture will be dismantled and the scaffolding poles transported to a new location where the artist will use the same components to create a different sculpture.

• Ben Long will be hosting series of guided tours of the site giving the public a chance to learn about the sculpture. These will take place on Saturday 17 May, Saturday 31 May, Saturday 7 June, Saturday 14 June and Saturday 21 June. Guests are encouraged to book in advance by contacting Man&Eve gallery on 020 7582 7861 or emailing [email protected]