Contract award brings Falkirk’s Kelpies a step closer
May 30 2012
Commissioned by the Helix Trust, the elaborate Andy Scott designed stainless steel plated sculptures will form the heart of a 350 hectare regeneration site between Falkirk and Grangemouth.
This will entail installation of more than six km of structural steel incorporating 10,000 special fixings to secure the ‘skin’ of the heads.
Tim Burton, sales and marketing manager of SH Structures, said: "Projects of this nature and scale are rare and provide a significant opportunity to be involved in delivering a lasting legacy that will instil a great sense of pride for everyone involved.”
Andy Scott added: "The heavy horse played a hugely influential role in the progress of modern society. They were the powerhouse of the early industrial revolution, the tractors of early agriculture and, of course, the first source of locomotion for barges on the very canal, which The Kelpies will inhabit.
"I see The Kelpies as a personification of that history, of the lost industries of Scotland, but I also see them as a symbol of modern Scotland - proud and majestic."
7 Comments
#1 Posted by The Bairn on 30 May 2012 at 16:42 PM
these will be eyesores of the highest order...shocking waste of cash...blots on the landscape...no doubt a future photo opportunity for First Minister Salmond to pop along and end up featuring in the 'Yes' brochure for 2014...wake up Scotland!!
#2 Posted by JohnBoy on 30 May 2012 at 19:16 PM
The Bairn - what absolute nonsense. These look fantastic and will certainly be a tourist draw. And what do you have against Alex Salmond? Don't like seeing Scotland have politicians that stand up for themselves? Would you prefer another corrupt Labour puppet yes-man? Maybe it's you that needs to wake up.
#3 Posted by Big Janice fae Easterhoose on 30 May 2012 at 21:40 PM
These look fan dabby dosy! A great addition to the landscape.
#4 Posted by murphy on 31 May 2012 at 11:08 AM
are you joking? another andy scott sculpture that looks almost exactly the same as every other one. Its mindless vandalism on a ridiculous scale. I'm all for investment in large scale art projects but we could at least show a bit of innovation and originality with how we commission these projects and that we get something that reflects the scale of investment. I would imagine the horses would look more at home in Dubai or Disneyland Paris - just because its big doesn't mean its better.
#5 Posted by Big Janice fae Easterhoose on 31 May 2012 at 14:04 PM
@murphy
They're nothing like "the last ones". How many of his sculptures have a viewing platform? These are innovative and contextual.
Ridiculous scale? Em, they're metres high -- hardly the 120metre+ of the Orbit sculpture in London.
Vandalism? They're enhancing the regeneration of a given area. They're not destroying anything. Part of the the Helix project is to respect,enhance etc the natural wildlife habitats.
J'adore them!
They're nothing like "the last ones". How many of his sculptures have a viewing platform? These are innovative and contextual.
Ridiculous scale? Em, they're metres high -- hardly the 120metre+ of the Orbit sculpture in London.
Vandalism? They're enhancing the regeneration of a given area. They're not destroying anything. Part of the the Helix project is to respect,enhance etc the natural wildlife habitats.
J'adore them!
#6 Posted by Big Janice fae Easterhoose on 31 May 2012 at 14:04 PM
* 30meters high
#7 Posted by The Bairn on 1 Jun 2012 at 23:42 PM
@JohnBoy
you obviously dont live or originate from the area...these are outrageously too big and people will no doubt say 'oh I didnae ken it was gonnae be that size'...the wee ones are better!! not even supporting employment in this country...as endearing as locating a big wheel in the middle of Princes Street Gardens - people like you think they are being arty and in vogue, crass is no substitute for class...
you obviously dont live or originate from the area...these are outrageously too big and people will no doubt say 'oh I didnae ken it was gonnae be that size'...the wee ones are better!! not even supporting employment in this country...as endearing as locating a big wheel in the middle of Princes Street Gardens - people like you think they are being arty and in vogue, crass is no substitute for class...
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