SOYO bring us Together Again at Playhouse Square

Together Again is a new festive display designed by artist Emma Hardaker and sign painter Jameson Rogan, commissioned by SOYO Leeds, to bring some festive cheer to their city centre site.

SOYO is the £300 million mixed-used neighbourhood in Leeds’ city cultural quarter at the historic Quarry Hill. Phase one of the project is a partnership between three of The Caddick Group’s leading companies, Caddick Developments, Caddick Construction and Moda Living, which remains on target to complete in 2022 despite this year’s uncertainty.

Caddick Group’s intention is to create a new heart for the city’s cultural quarter at SOYO. With the help of Leeds City Centre Management, they have commissioned Emma and James onto create a Christmas installation for Playhouse Square, supported by Leeds City College and Leeds Playhouse.

Both artists’ work is typically graphic in style and takes reference from mid-century design, pattern and type. For this piece they took inspiration from traditional Christmas wrapping paper patterns and used the tag line Together Again as they felt it was a sentiment shared by all this Christmas. Emma’s work can also be seen on a series of banners on Regent Street and for MAPP charity in Mabgate.

Emma says, “We wanted to create something that was vibrant and eye catching but not overtly Christmassy, using more muted winter colours and subtle shapes and patterns this piece is a contemporary take on the usual Christmas decor we see.”

Myles Hartley, managing director at Caddick Developments, says, “We believe that Emma Hardaker and Jameson Rogan’s Together Again perfectly captures the current mood of the city.

Our aim for SOYO is to create a neighbourhood that cares about the wider community - job creation, local charitable initiatives, investment in the wider community and supporting local independent businesses and suppliers.

2020 has brought challenges that nobody could predict or plan for and it’s a huge thanks to our stakeholders and neighbours - and the hundreds of Caddick Group team members onsite - that work has progressed safely and efficiently at SOYO.”