There’s Botticelli and then there’s Botticelli. Get ready for an old master of 21st century shopping, courtesy of supermarket chain Lidl, which has commissioned a new version of The Birth of Venus (c. 1485) made of… bottle caps. The 25ft high permanent mural, unveiled in Glasgow’s west district, is made from 253,000 plastic bottle caps recycled through Lidl’s take-back scheme. (Until August, shoppers will receive 5p for every item they return.) The piece, which goes by the nickname Bottlecelli, was made by artist Smug and street art organization Yardworks. Smug has gained notoriety for his imposing, realistic pieces dotted around the city, including a striking image of TV personality Rab C. Nesbitt, which was unveiled on a barber shop front late last year, bringing a smile to Glaswegians.
