Recent Public Art | The University of Aberdeen

Recent Public Art

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Alford Bull
Roadside life size naturalistic bronze of an Angus bull on a shallow stone plinth, surrounded by a small area of paving enclosed, on the field side, by a mortared rubble wall with cairn like pillars. First Plaque reads: ABERDEEN ANGUS This bronze sculpture was commissioned by the community of Alford in 2001 to symbolise the historic connection between the the celebrated Aberdeen Angus breed and the village of Alford. One of the founders of the breed, Wm. McCombie farmed at Tillyfour, Alford from 1820 to 1880 and was one of the most distinguished agriculturalists of his time. "He found a purely local breed: he left a breed known and valued throughout the cattle countries of the world." The model for this bull, Jeremy Eric of Bridgefoot, was bred by A. Fordyce & sons, Bridgefoot, Kemnay, Aberdeenshire, and purchased by F. J. Fraser & son Newton of Idvies, Forfar, at the Perth bull sales in February 2000 for 28,000 guineas. Sculpter: David Annand Casting: Powderhall Bronze Edinburgh The second plaque is a list of notable financial contributors and the third in pink granite commemorates the royal unveiling. Also shown is a portrait head after an engraving of William McCombie. More Information
Animals and People
Installation of 3 relief carved pink granite boulders by Louise Gardner, showing people and animals, with small ceramic tiles by local schoolchildren set into the pavement. More Information

Alford Bull

Roadside life size naturalistic bronze of an Angus bull on a shallow stone plinth, surrounded by a small area of paving enclosed, on the field side, by a mortared rubble wall with cairn like pillars.
First Plaque reads:
ABERDEEN ANGUS
This bronze sculpture was commissioned by the community of Alford in 2001 to symbolise the historic connection between the the celebrated Aberdeen Angus breed and the village of Alford.
One of the founders of the breed, Wm. McCombie farmed at Tillyfour, Alford from 1820 to 1880 and was one of the most distinguished agriculturalists of his time.

"He found a purely local breed: he left a breed known and valued throughout the cattle countries of the world."

The model for this bull, Jeremy Eric of Bridgefoot, was bred by A. Fordyce & sons, Bridgefoot, Kemnay, Aberdeenshire, and purchased by F. J. Fraser & son Newton of Idvies, Forfar, at the Perth bull sales in February 2000 for 28,000 guineas.
Sculpter: David Annand
Casting: Powderhall Bronze Edinburgh
The second plaque is a list of notable financial contributors and the third in pink granite commemorates the royal unveiling. Also shown is a portrait head after an engraving of William McCombie.

Banff Abstract Sculpture
An abstract sculpture in granite, drawing to some extent on the traditional iconography of a broken column. More Information
Bennachie typewriter sculpture
A sculpture composed of three carved wooden elements (spruce wood). Set under large conifers Making a visual pun between the letter keys of a qwerty keyboard and the seed cones of conifers. It comments on the commercial use of the trees to produce wood pulp for paper and the subsequent use of that paper. More Information
Bennachie, Totem Pole
A wooden totem pole carved in the American Indian style near the Bennachie Centre, the main image being of an eagle with salmon on either side. Created by the Scottish Totem Pole Project a partnership between Royal Museum, the artist Kenny Grieve (Brotus Rural Crafts) and a group of Canadian First Nations carvers (on projects in 2002 led by XwaLackTun , Xwa works in two First Nation styles, the Northern Kwaguilth Coast Salish and West Coast Squamish). This cross cultural project involves schools and communities across Scotland investigating Northwest Coast artefacts, exploring their own heritage and natural environment, and creating uniquely Scottish totem poles.. see http://www.nms.ac.uk/totempoles/home/ More Information
Burns garden, second Burns bust and Laura Anne memorial stone
A small civic garden near the Cowie River crossing on the north side of the town centre. The steel fabricated railings were created by 'The Stonehaven Horizon' a team volunteers when the garden was revamped in 2006. Various themes from Burns's poems are used in this garden, as well as the 'moosie' and the Thistle, along with the 'sun' logo of the Horizon Project Group. The plants in the garden are also those with Burns associations. The 'sun' logo is used throughout the town on various improvements that the group have been involved with. The Laura Anne memorial a small sandstone memorial relief carved with a rose, inset with a granite plaque bearing the dedication (artist unknown) late 1990s. The pre eminent raison d'être of the garden is the sandstone Bust of Scotland's most famous poet Robert Burns (b. 25 Jan 1759 Alloway d. 21st July 1796 Dumfries, at the age of 37). The entire piece is covered with references to Burns's poems - each of the four sides of the pedestal has a grotesque mask of one of his many characters along with an associated text. It was carved by Robert Taylor 'Ghosty Bob' - a local monumental mason and sculptor (his nickname a result of his work carving many gravestones). This is the mark 2 version. Both works ultimately derive from the 1787 portrait by Alexander Nasmyth (1758-1840). This seems to be regarded as the definitive image of Burns and has been used as a source for most of the huge number of later representations, it is certainly more flattering than the portrait painted by Peter Taylor in 1786. More Information

Carers Garden Mosaics
Landscape inspired mosaics in recycled glass and slate. More Information
Changing environment
A large granite menhir inscribed "in sun rain sleet or snow" the quarry drill marks left as a feature. The sculpture contains a couple of monocular telescopic lenses that gives the viewer a close-up look of the surrounding countryside and Corgarff castle. More Information
COAST 2013 banners
David Blyth worked with local school children as part of this commission. Two major source inspirations were a 1960 paper doll toy found in a local charity shop (the kind one used to cut out the clothes for with the little tabs that fold over) and the Macduff Marine Aquarium. The human/sea animal hybrid is also a concept widespread in Scottish folklore here however David focuses on corals, polyps, urchins and etc rather than the more traditional seals and fish of sylkies and merfolk. More Information
Coast Festival
A large wooden sculpture of a Phoenix was burned to reveal a small metal phoenix. More Information
Coast Festival, benches installation
As part of the first Coast Festival (23rd-26th May 2008 ). One of three commissioned temporary public art works. A series of 5 separate installations of digitally printed banners each was a trompe l'oeil image of a bench in place where one might have been the background to match the wall. On each bench was a montage of objects on closer inspection one can see the distortion of scale used in these objects. For instance while the herring gull is life size, the abandoned plastic carrier bag it looks as though it is going to scavenge from is full of tiny street lights and other street furniture. A comment is made on the surrounding landscape which a person sitting on the illusory bench might survey and inhabit, an interesting contrast between the objects that give our places unique character and those such as road signs and street lights that tend to homogenise the environment. More Information
Coast Festival, Helen Denerley sculpture park
As part of the first Coast Festival (23rd-26th May 2008 ). The artist kindly loaned a number of her animalier works. While many artists world wide produce sculptures of animals using the technique of welded assemblage Helen's pieces are outstanding in her apprehension of both the basic anatomy and the movement and expression of each species. She is also careful not to completely lose the original identity of the materials used in the works construction. The nature of the scrap used often add considerably to the numinous qualities of the finished piece. In my personal view the best of her works are those pieces that evoke rural Scotland (deer, sheep, horses, hunting dogs, native birds etc.) given extra poignancy by being made of the detritus of the rural economy of the recent past. More Information
Coast Festival, installation at Macduff Pier
As part of the first Coast Festival (23rd-26th May2008 ). One of three commissioned temporary public art works. It consisted of 5 uprights in polished steel. These created a complex visual environment of reflections, shadows and reflected light beams. Constantly changing in accordance with the light and the viewers position. More Information
Coast Festival, sculptures by Rob Mulholland
For COAST 2009 Rob created an installation of figures standing in the grounds of Banff Castle looking down toward the bay, with a lone figure down by the sea wall at Greenbanks pointing out to sea.This installation is a play on the seafaring traditions of Banff and Macduff, with the townsfolk looking out in search of the returning fleet and the distinct relationship that fishing families have with the sea. The figures have been cut in mild steel and riveted together to resemble the plate used in fishing boats; this choice and use of materials creates a resonance with our community and visitors alike. More Information
Coast Festival, video piece
As part of the first Coast Festival (23rd-26th May 2008 ). One of three commissioned temporary public art works. A screen based piece using images and recollections from local residents, specifically about Tarlair Lido but also Banff and Macduff in general. You will notice many artefacts illustrated in this database in the stills shown here. A large part of the artist's creative contribution rests on his custom written 'slipstream' computer programme used to display the images and audio elements in continuously changing combinations. More Information
Compass Rose
A pavement set into the grass of the links showing a compass rose. More Information
Continuum
A granite, glass and copper sculpture in the form of a column. More Information
Crovie Sculpture
Large ash wood carving 12 foot high, with metal elements. The artist's title is "Scottish Athena" - Athena being the ancient Greek - "Goddess of wisdom, practical skills and prudent Warfare" hence the metal head piece. "I called her that because of the prudent warfare bit because of Crovie being the place where people went during the clearing of the highlands - I thought she could be a protector therefore up on that cliff top ready with her helmet piece. The steel eyes were to reflect the sky or sunset etc to give that timeless expression. Also because in another definition she was termed patron of the arts and the piece was done as part of a Thankyou to the companies who had donated or supported the Scottish Sculpture Workshop at Lumsden." More Information
Culsh Monument Viewpoint
A sculptural granite, viewing and orientation point, located next to a steepled tower built as a memorial. More Information

Daniels piece
Large polychrome graffiti piece More Information
Deer Abbey, commerative plaque to St Mary and St Drostan
A carved stone relief. St Drostan is a legendary evangelist of the area, his name a Pictish form of Tristram. More Information
Dolphin sculpture, Stonehaven
A Dolphin created from a network of steel rods in the characteristic style of many of this artist's public projects in Scotland, Australia etc. More Information
Double Head sculpture Huntly
A contemporary stone carving of a double head also making a feature of the subjects hands. More Information

Fisher Jessie sculpture
Naturalistic bronze cast statue of a fish-wife and little girl, the woman carrying a creel and a basket. More Information
Fishermens Memorial, Peterhead
Size overall: 180cm x 350cm x 50cm, sail shaped cast bronze relief modelled with scenes of early 20th century fisher life, mounted on a granite slab. More Information
Flying Visit
Large welded metal sculptures of a 'Family' of Crows feeding outside a supermarket. Each is made from parts from former farm implements - ploughs, dividers, links, grubber wheels, bolts etc More Information
Fordyce Millennium Sculpture (Fordyce, Fuar Deas, The Cold South)
A sculpture based on a leaf and branch motif in welded metal surrounded by a bench with an inscription "Fordyce, Fuar Deas, The Cold South". The wooden seat has been replaced in metal by the original artist as it did not stand the exposure to the weather. More Information
Fraserburgh entrance, lighthouse models
Large model lighthouses at the entrance to the town of the Banff and Strichen Roads surrounded by boulders and planting. More Information
Fraserburgh Fish Sculpture
A sculpture in bronze in the form of shoaling fish. Has been used as a location for for pre-nuptial blackening rituals. More Information
Fraserburgh, Beach tunnel murals
Brightly coloured cartoonish mural decoration in a style that many adults seem to regard as appealing to children. More Information
Fruits of Labour
Carved from Indian Black Granite, a partial sphere with two larger hemispherical shapes suggestive of a sliced fruit, a peach for instance, each has a hemispherical void in its centre that matches the smaller sphere which is itself suggestive of the fruit stone. Contrast is provided by polished and unpolished surfaces. More Information