Art of arm-wrestling in Norwich

LORNA MARSH It might be a title more usually associated with circuses, but a bid to find Norfolk's strongest man and woman will form an unusual art event coming to Norwich at the weekend.

LORNA MARSH

It might be a title more usually associated with circuses, but a bid to find Norfolk's strongest man and woman will form an unusual art event coming to Norwich at the weekend.

The city will be only the second after London to host the arm-wrestling competition organised by Australian artist David Brazier as part of the East International 2006 exhibition.

Mr Brazier is one of several artists selected by Turner Prize winner Jeremy Deller and Belgian curator Dirk Snauwaert to take part in East International which will open to the public from next month until the middle of August.

He said in staging the contest, which carries prizes of £100 each for the strongest man and woman, he wanted to explore the themes of participation and competition.

“It is celebrating the identity of local people and bringing a cross-section of the community together for something a bit different from the regular nine-to- five existence.

“It is more about the participation than physical strength: at the London Roman Road event we had a librarian and the local kebab shop owner taking part and teenage boys who were not really strong at all - it was all a bit of fun, but who knows, in Norwich it might be different.”

Videos and photographs of the event will feature at the main East Inter-national exhibition which runs from July 10 to August 19 at the Norwich Gallery in the Norwich School of Art and Design on St George's Street.

The Strongest Man and Woman competition takes place at Hay Hill on Saturday, June 17, from noon to 4pm and entry is free. Those interested in taking part should show up between those times.

For details on East International, call the school on 01603 610561.