All about the Cardigan BIG ART Project
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer
What is the Big Art Project?
The Big Art Project is an ambitious and pioneering public art
commissioning initiative from Channel 4, supported by Arts Council
England, the national development agency for the arts and the Art
Fund, the UK's leading independent art charity.
In 2005, Channel 4 invited the public all around the UK to explain
why their community would benefit from a new piece of public art.
An overwhelming response was received with over 1400 applications
from communities all over the UK. After some difficult decision-making,
7 sites were selected; Beckton in the London Borough of Newham,
North Belfast, Burnley, Cardigan in Wales, The Isle of Mull in
Scotland, Sheffield and St Helens on Merseyside.
Progress on the public art commissions and the process involved
with bringing such a project to fruition is being filmed by Carbon
Media for a major Channel 4 series to be broadcast in 2009.
Why was Cardigan chosen?
Cardigan was nominated by individuals from the community as part
of the Teifi Estuary and Prince Charles Quay regeneration programme.
The criteria used in the selection of the final seven sites included:
Planning and political support; Aesthetic and educational potential;
The range of art that might be possible; Enthusiasm and flexibility
of the nominating community as well as the potential to maximise
public access to the commissioning process and the final art work
Who chose the artist?
A panel consisting of the site's nominator, Jim Evans, as well as Barbara Myers and Paul Oakley consulted with members of the Cardigan community to pick one of the world's most innovative and forward-thinking contemporary artists, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer. Working in electronic media, Rafael develops large-scale interactive installations in public space, usually deploying new technologies and custom-made physical interfaces. READ MORE ON THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE
How can I find out more about the artist?
To find out more about the artist and the proposed work, Turbulence, you can visit http://www.lozano-hemmer.com
What exactly is proposed?
'Turbulence' is an interactive installation
consisting of a cluster of buoys illuminated by the voices of passers-by.
The hundred and twenty seven buoys float in the centre of the river
and contain a loudspeaker, LED light source and a sensor that detects
movement in the water.
A number of microphones placed at various locations around the
riverbank will record people's voices and automatically
convert them into blinking lights within the buoys. The stored
voices stay quietly in the buoys until the river's periodic
turbulence – caused by the constant ebb and flow of the
river Teifi – activates the buoys to 'release'
the stored sounds, which can be heard from the shore. A website
will likewise allow people from all over the world to add their
voices to the project.
The piece is intended as a reflection on Welsh oral traditions,
poetry and song, creating a playful participative platform that
is activated by the natural cycles of tides.
Where will the work be?
The original intended location for the piece was Prince Charles Quay. However, feasibility studies undertaken on the river have found the location to be problematic particularly in terms of navigational issues. The favoured alternative location is now The Strand, upstream of the quay. Subject to the approval of the local community, 'Turbulence' could be moored there safely, with microphones placed along the shore to record the voices of passers-by. It is intended that improving the Strand as a public space is part of the project and funding for this has been applied for.
How is this funded?
The Big Art Project in Cardigan is supported by several organizations. The three core project funders are Channel 4, Arts Council England and the Art Fund. The Cardigan site is funded by a combination of these lead funders and receives further support from the Québec Government Office in London and Welsh independent public art consultancy Safle. Additional funding is also currently being sought from the Welsh Assembly Government.
How will it be moored?
The artist and project managers for the work have engaged Keel Marine and a locally based Marine Architect to assist with this part of the project. They are designing a deflection system for debris floating up and down the tide and moorings that will hold the work in place under all imaginable circumstances. The main areas of concern are the amount of drag the work may create and it's potential to 'dive' when the current is strong and the designers are working on appropriate solutions for this.
Who will take care of it?
An endowment to cover maintenance for a 10 year period is included in the budget for the work. The Chamber of Commerce in Cardigan has agreed to act as Client for the project and will work closely with Safle to ensure maintenance work is carried out expediently when required.
How will the piece not impede navigation?
By relocating the work above the bridge, their should be no significant navigation issues to address. This area of the river is wide and shallow and only accessible for smaller craft. The work will be moored off-centre, closer to the northern shore of the Teifi, allowing more than enough room for small boats and canoes to pass by.
Will the work bring noise or light pollution to the area?
The tests have shown that the light penetrates to a depth of 1.5
metres immediately below and within 1 metre from the buoys at full
power. This could be a problem for migrating Salmon and Sewin smalt,
suggesting to them that dawn has arrived which makes them go to
the bottom and wait for dark again to continue their journey. Their
main migration is around the end or March and early April. Responses
could include reducing the light levels between 10 pm and 5 am
during their migration seasons and/or better masking of the light
within the buoys.
Sound levels will be set so that they do not disturb wildlife.
The project team are receiving advice from appropriate consultants
and liaise on a regular basis with the Environment Agency and the
Countryside Council for Wales.
How long will the work be in place?
It is hoped a long time! The buoys are currently floating at an out of the way location to test their durability, but there is nothing to suggest that they cannot withstand the rigours of the environment. However the technology used may become obsolete and the relevance of the work may become less over time. We are currently working on the assumption that its useful lifespan is ten years.
How will the work impact the town of Cardigan?
The underlying question for the Cardigan project is 'Can art kick-start tourism'? It is hoped that as well as providing real benefits for the people of Cardigan, that the commission will attract tourists to the beautiful town through the wide exposure the work and the town will receive through the TV Broadcast. This may provide further momentum for other regeneration projects such as the restoration of the Castle.
READ MORE ON THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE