Latest:

05:02 Hundreds flee Iceland eruption
04:42 Labour fights lobbying after expose
04:02 Darling rules out giveaway Budget
03:52 Foreign Office budget move slammed
03:12 Stars eye Laurence Olivier Awards
03:02 Just 25% of voters back BA strike
00:42 Cork halt Dublin steak
00:42 Meath edge out Laois

Spirit of Belfast new sculpture; is it a thing of beauty or a piece of scrap?

By Matthew McCreary
Friday, 25 September 2009

Workmen put the finishing touches on the Spirit of Belfast before the sculpture was unveiled last night in Cornmarket

More pictures

Bookmark & Share

What are these?

The sculptor behind Northern Ireland’s newest piece of public art has described it as a “child for the people of Belfast”.

The landmark metal sculpture — named Spirit of Belfast — was unveiled last night at Arthur Square, better known as Cornmarket.

Towering seven metres high and wide and weighing seven-and-a-half tons, the sculpture is made of four curved stainless steel parts and replaces the famous bandstand that stood on the site for decades.

The £200,000 work forms part of the Department for Social Development’s Streets Ahead project, and was chosen following a public vote.

The sculpture is the work of New York artist Dan George.

“It’s a marvellous environment for it and the scale is perfect on top of the plinth, because it mediates between the pedestrian scale and the architectural scale,” he said.

“It provides a focus and yet it is open and doesn’t block the view through the plaza area.

“I hesitate to try to define it and pinpoint what the meaning is, because everyone that comes to it creates their own meaning. I was thinking about the history of Belfast with its shipbuilding and the linen industry, so you might see it as having the strength of steel and the delicate woven fabric of linen.

“It really has the spirit of modern Belfast, its openness and sturdiness of spirit and energy.

“Everyone will see it in a different way, and really the viewer is the creator of the sculpture itself.

“It has a life of its own and now it’s here where it was meant to be,” he said.

“It is for the people of Belfast and it’s their child now.”

Among those attending the official unveiling of the sculpture last night were Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie.

“This iconic sculpture will create a new landmark for the Arthur Square/Cornmarket area and confirm it as a key public space in the city centre,” she said.

“It will mark where many people meet in the city and will add interest and focus to our streets.”

‘It looks like it needs a good polish’

A waste of money and in need of a good polish.

That was the verdict of Belfast city centre shoppers yesterday on the new piece of public art unveiled in Cornmarket.

It may have come with a £200,000 price tag and be more modern that the old bandstand previously on the well-known spot, but shoppers among the first to catch a glimpse were generally unimpressed.

Abby Williams (19), from Belfast, said: “Kids might impale themselves on it.” Rebecca Uxley (21), also from the city, shared the health and safety concerns expressed by Abby.

“It looks dangerous and half finished — it needs a good polish,” she said.

Darren Wilson (22), from Belfast, said: “It’s good to look at, but a waste of money.”

Sarah Duncan (64), from Castlereagh, said: “I don’t like it at all. It spoils the view of the beautiful Masonic hall behind it. I don’t think it fits the surrounding area and kids will climb on it.”

The art was decided on by public vote in 2007.

Will Chamberlain, from Belfast, said the finished piece was disappointing.

“It’s disappointing when compared with the plans. It doesn’t suit the square and doesn’t fulfil its budget,” he said.

Mr and Mrs Robertson, both retired and from Birmingham, said: “Joe Public is going to have a struggle with it, but I thinks it represents Belfast’s industrial heritage.”

Mr and Mrs Craig, both 68 and from Belfast, were more positive.

“It looks nice, I think it represents communities coming together.”

Comments

First |
Previous
1
2
3
Next
| Last

54 Comments

"SPIRIT OF BELFAST" ? I don't think so! In fact I think the guy
that threw this piece of junk together who is called an artist knows nothing about Belfast, Otherwise he would 've produced somthing beautiful as was the linen that was made in Belfast and the ships that were made in Belfast. In fact I think the only "spirit" involved in the making of this bent & twisted rubbish came from Bushmills!
For goodness sakes people in power, get your act together and stop wasting money.

Posted by robert magee | 26.09.09, 23:09 GMT

I don't see the point in blaming the sculpure that the local hoods are gonna climb over it and fall off. If it teaches a few of them to respect public property then it'll worth the price tag...

Posted by J-Bird83 | 26.09.09, 16:23 GMT

"The art was decided on by public vote in 2007. " Well, if Joe Public actually saw what he was getting then he has nothing to gripe about; However, IF - which is more probable, - he was just told there would be 'a sculpture' then he has been 'had'. Why wasn't the bandstand preserved ? why must there be 'new modern art' in place of what we are used to? and WHY did it cost £200,000 to line the pockets of an American? Surely someone from H & W could have come up with something just as good.

Posted by Stuart | 25.09.09, 23:10 GMT

Looks like a big broken spring! an eye sore and a complete waste of time and money. Who in their right mind would have spent £200k on such a grotesque item.

Posted by Alan | 25.09.09, 23:02 GMT

dan must be thinking - these people are a sad bunch........ sculpture is a wonderful idea but surely there are more important issues in a dysfunctional small statelet....

Posted by willie farmer | 25.09.09, 23:00 GMT

To answer the question: "Is it scrap?", my answer is "Yes." I do not see linen at all, as a previously commented. Linen is a natural earthy product, woven many different ways, and would be a good inspiration for an art project. Even weaving with iron would be acceptable art, but no, not this piece for Belfast.
This piece looks cold and loose. Perhaps the artist should look at a finished piece of linen!
I see pencil shavings at best. Also, it does look dangerous for the place where it is.

What now to do with it? Children will naturally want to climb on it. Soften the edges with rubber, and put it in a playground, with soft landing material underneath for safety.

Posted by Marie Flynn | 25.09.09, 21:22 GMT

there was better looking scrap metal thrown into the scrap buckets in the shipyard in my day.

Waste of space and money

Posted by john | 25.09.09, 20:37 GMT

The fact that everyone has an opinion on "Spirit of Belfast" makes it a strong and important piece of art. I don't think people would even be comparing it to "scrap" if it were made from some other medium. I doubt that a non-artist could not have made this with 100 pounds. But the fact that we think we could make it ourselves suggests this piece is democratic, that it asks us to think about what is or is not art, and how the piece fits in and comments on Belfast's industrial heritage and future as a cosmopolitan city of culture.

Posted by Julia B | 25.09.09, 19:50 GMT

At a time when millions need saved DSD are foolishly spending money. They need to stop and stop it now.

Posted by mark | 25.09.09, 19:23 GMT

Congratulatios to all involved. These iconic art pieces are notoiously more popular and memorable than a bit of paving. Value for money? What price pride and identity? Well after what we, ve been thru, some might say any cost. Without this feature the area would be bland and empty and look like any other city. Pity we couldn't commission a local artist!

Posted by eigaor | 25.09.09, 19:07 GMT

Another case of The Kings New Clothes, with those holding the public purse not having the wit to see it's a rip off!!

The materials cost has to be less than £10K, so how does anyone justify the other £190K???

There are plenty of local engineering masterpieces, with genuine heritage and relevance that could have been utilised as a thought provoking focal point, at minimal cost.

Posted by Edna B | 25.09.09, 17:31 GMT

There was nothing wrong with the band stand before. It was useful to shelter in the rain and, of course, was practical when there was a band or buskers or entertainment.

Posted by Bergman Coffey | 25.09.09, 17:01 GMT

that money could have been spent on hospital equipment or police people are loseing jobs and the goverment spend money on a pice of metal what a joke take it back and get a refound stop wasteing our money

Posted by paul w | 25.09.09, 16:46 GMT

As a recent visitor to this fascinating and beautiful city I am appalled that such a piece could have found it's way here. If this is supposed to represent the heritage of shipbuilding and linen then it falls very far from the mark. Both shipbuilding and the linen industry created items of beauty and complexity as well as strength. My belief also, is that public art should be created by local artists to truly reflect the depth of understanding of its locale.

Posted by Ulster Fry | 25.09.09, 16:35 GMT

'The £200,000 work forms part of the Department for Social Development’s Streets Ahead project, and was chosen following a public vote.
Expensive junk, if I had left this in the street I would have been fined. Public vote? Did they have any others to choose from?

Posted by T J McClean | 25.09.09, 16:27 GMT

I think it's stunning (in a good way!), and look forward to seeing it when it's lit up at night.

The squiggle that makes you giggle!

Posted by IAM | 25.09.09, 16:07 GMT

How long till it is covered in graffiti?

Not the prettiest piece of art, looks scraped etc too, but then what is good art these days? Look at wembley now famous for having a simple arch.

Posted by klabnix | 25.09.09, 15:53 GMT

Its the Spaghetti Statue.

Seen the unveiling of it from work lastnight, and couldnt help but notice 5 mins later people climbing all over it. I wonder how long before somebody trips and puts in a claim.

Posted by Daniel | 25.09.09, 15:38 GMT

I watched this go up and it looks hidious! Just more grey steel to add to a dull and already grey, shabby city centre. The Big Fish and that thing with the hoop by the river are fantastic in comparison! Much more approchable by people. No doubt kids will try to climb up this eyesore and end up falling and putting claims in. I'll give it 2 months before there is a fence around it!! Someone should be made accountable for this waste of public money.

Posted by Belfast Citizen | 25.09.09, 15:28 GMT