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.
Go Kart
Plywood, wheels, steel frame
CNC manufacturer, Chop Shop
Concrete Painting
Pigment and conrete
Conplex, concrete fabricators
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."
Spannersaurus
Old spanners, hardware and saw blades
Neg Earth Lights. Park Royal, London
Key Fob Panel
Key fob parts, acrylic boards
Auto Key Specialists Ltd. Park Royal, London
Marble Side Table
Offcut marble
Quality Marble & Granite Ltd. Park Royal, London
Antenna Bong
Antenna rods and components
Anonymous. Park Royal, London
Tyre Chair
Discarded tyres, chair frame
Portman Garages Ltd. Park Royal, London
Flap Bag
Persian rug remnants
Ebi Shafagh Carpet Studio. Park Royal, London
Transmission Lamp
Gears, spindle, lamp shade
Minerva Motors. Park Royal, London
Pressure Plate Clock
Pressure plate, clock parts
Minerva Motors. Park Royal, London
Welded Vehicles
Car parts
Minerva Motors. Park Royal, London
Embroideries
Discarded business shirts and sheets
Blanc Dry Cleaners Ltd. Park Royal, London
Tablet Holder
Stainless steel nuts
Neg Earth Lights. Park Royal, London
Copper Flowers
Copper sheet and rod
RDW Scenary Constructions. Park Royal, London
Box-Stitch Sculpture
Offcut leather, thread
Bill Amberg Studio. Park Royal, London
Mirrorwork
Mirror offcuts
DRK Glass Ltd.
Portable Ashtray
Offcut steel pipe
Sashweights & Metalwork Ltd.
Oil Painting
Oil paints
RDW Scenery Construction Ltd.
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
Exhibition
20-26 September, 2021
Hatton Metalcraft
Unit 3, Trading Estate Road
London, NW10 7LU
