The Kelpies

[David]

We took a trip to see The Kelpies at Falkirk/Grangemouth today. Ii had seen them in the passing form the motorway, and they were impressive form that perspective. Up close they appear to be alive.

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[chasem]

That first picture is almost creepy! I like it though - good pictures.

[SeumasA]

Nice pics. I've heard of the project and wondered how they turned out.

[mookien]

Nice sculptures! They certainly fit the environment, with the exception of the power lines. They should bury those underground. That would probably cost a few bob, though.

[David]

Nice sculptures! They certainly fit the environment, with the exception of the power lines. They should bury those underground. That would probably cost a few bob, though.

The towers were a bit annoying in the pics. But when i thought about it, the whole surrounding area is highly industrialised. Despite how it looks in the pictures there is a motorway (freeway?) separating the Helix Park / Kelpies area from Grangemouth refinery, the chemical plants, warehousing and distribution areas, etc, etc. I suppose in this context the towers and power lines are in keeping with the area; and a contrast to the natural element of the Kelpies and complimentary to the material and construction methods used in constructing the Kelpies.

[mookien]

"Highly industrialized". Well then, perhaps that explains their metal skin and their apparent struggle to wrest themselves free from a pastoral legacy and gallop off into a mechanized future, ... or some other such rubbish.

[tulloch]

God they are beautiful. I hope to see them myself some day. Maybe when they are more weathered.

[Lodrorigdzin]

"Highly industrialized". Well then, perhaps that explains their metal skin and their apparent struggle to wrest themselves free from a pastoral legacy and gallop off into a mechanized future, ... or some other such rubbish.

From Wikipedia's entry:

"According to sculptor Andy Scott "The original concept of mythical water horses was a valid starting point for the artistic development of the structures."^[7] “I took that concept and moved with it towards a more equine and contemporary response, shifting from any mythological references towards a socio-historical monument intended to celebrate the horse’s role in industry and agriculture as well as the obvious association with the canals as tow horses.”

[mookien]

Yeah, that's right. That's what I meant.

"tow horses"?! I think he meant "two horses".

[Lodrorigdzin]

The problem is, if you're a visual artist, it's compulsory that you put an artist's statement into words. See where it jars? The result usually is art critique speak, not something intelligible or even pertinent to the work of art under discussion.