Shopping trolley artwork unveiled

The sculpture links the issues of consumerism and genetics Enlarge Image

No, it's not the result of a fresher's week joke - this is the new sculpture unveiled in Central Square in Newcastle, called DNA DL90.

It's a giant DNA double-helix structure made out of shopping trolleys.

The structure was created by artist Abigail Fallis in response to the issues of genetics and consumerism.

It alludes to scientific investigations into the designer baby and the lengths to which society is prepared to go in order to create a perfect specimen.

Abigail said: "Shopping trolleys are everywhere, and have become a real symbol of modern society and today's consumer culture.

"So much so that one could say that consumerism is inextricably linked to our genetic makeup."

The sculpture was officially opened on 7 October 2009 by Dr Matt Ridley and Nobel Prize-winning Dr James Watson, one of the men responsible for discovering the double-helix structure of DNA.

It will be in situ for five years, after which it will be replaced by another artwork.