Work-Leisure

WORK–LEISURE

About Work-Leisure

From the whimsical to the functional, Work-Leisure is a national survey of objects made by Britain’s manufacturing workforce after hours and between tasks on the production line. Beginning in 2021 in Park Royal, West London, the project has since expanded to Sheffield, documenting alternative uses of materials, skills, and imagination within the workplace.

Work-Leisure is an project by Bahbak Hashemi-Nezhad, co-produced and edited with Matthew Harle.

Sheffield, 2025

Over the course of several months, hundreds of industrial sites and workshops across Sheffield were visited, documenting items created at the intersection of labour and recreation by Steel City's makers. An upcoming exhibition at Yorkshire Artspace will feature photographs and objects uncovered during the project.

Firehose Family

Catherine Wynn

Firehose ends, googly eyes

Office manager, Wood Tools Ltd.

Steel Scorpion

Dave Ellis

Mild steel,

Fabricator welder, Jed’s Dead Good Ltd.

Miniature Anvil

Richard Lewis

Forged Steel

Blacksmith, Ridgeway Forge Ltd.

Football Memorabilia

Jordan Wasden

Moulded Plaster

Fibrous plasterer, Plastering Designs Ltd.

The Predator

Peter Ledger

Silverplated Cutlery

Silver plater, PML Plating Ltd.

Offcats

Minion Stove

Matt Burgin

Mild Steel

Fabricator welder, Arms Park Developments Ltd.

Marmite Gin

John Cherry and Cynthia King

Distilled Marmite

Distillers, Locksley Distilling Co.

Bricklayer's Diorama

Lee Stuart

Steel, sand, paint, card

Fabricator welder, A W Parish

Boudoir Mules

Grace Horne

Fabric, leather, trimmings

Scissor maker, Grace Horne Designs

Forged Infinity

James Gregory

Forged Steel

Blacksmith, Gregory & Tesseras Blacksmiths

Necktie Cushions

Deb Betson

Neckties, Cushions

Soft furnishings maker, Deb-e-Tone Ltd.

Peppercorn Rent

David Riley

Mixed medium

Model maker, David Riley Model Making

Mesh Light

Ally Fraser

Security mesh, concrete block

Joiner and carpenter, Ally Fraser Makes

Z Stool

Andy Johnson

Square and round section, plywood

Fabricator welder, P L Fabrications

Bee Hotels

Chris Dyson

offcut hardwood

Joiner and carpenter, C.J. Dyson Joiner

Chessboard

Bilal

Timber offcuts

Carpenter and joiner, Aspect Design

Go Kart

Sam Gillick and team

Plywood, wheels, steel frame

CNC manufacturer, Chop Shop

Concrete Painting

Conor Povall

Pigment and conrete

Conplex, concrete fabricators

Publication

Work-Leisure, London (2021)
62 pages, vinyl dust-jacket, postcards
Design Studio Ard. Print run, 500 copies
£15 inc. UK postage. Contact for details

Sheffield Exhibition

20 March – 12 April, 2025
Yorkshire Artspace
21 Brown St.
Sheffield, S1 2BS

London, 2021

Park Royal is London's main industrial hub and home to over 1,700 businesses and 43,100 employees. It supports various industries, including automotive, glass, dry cleaning, metal/wood fabrication, film production, and large food manufacturers, earning the nickname "London's kitchen."