Medical research charity unveils glass sculpture

A 30 m high sculpture, consisting of 150 000 glass spheres and a million metres of fine steel wire, has been installed in the new headquarters of the Wellcome Trust, one of the world's largest medical research charities, in Euston Road, London. The form of the sculpture has been derived from the twisted shape of a drop of molten metal, cooled and solidified as it falls through tumbling water. Its inspiration determined its name, Bleigiessen, which means “lead pouring.” In central Europe a traditional activity on New Year's Eve is to pour lead into water, producing shapes from which your fortune can be predicted for the coming year. Thomas Heatherwick, whose studio produced the work, is also responsible for the B of the Bang sculpture, which commemorates the Commonwealth Games in Manchester and will be the United Kingdom's tallest sculpture when completed, and for redeveloping the approaches to Guy's Hospital in London.