Colin Rose the artist on this project has provided the following information:"I was commissioned to make a site-specific work for the new development on South Shore Road. The development dramatically changed the nature of the site and brough it into prominent focus at the cente of all movement at the junction. This created what I saw as a 'vortex' around the central point with pedestrian and traffic movement.
It seemed natural therefore for me to use this idea as a basis to work up ideas for the site. In this I looked at options including whirlpools and eddy's in wind and water given the location near to the River Tyne.
The final solution in stainless steel was chosen from a family of ideas based on this idea of movement with the clean finish of the material working in conjuntion with the glass and steel of the new development.
The heigh of the sculpture at 10M x 1.7M diameter comprising of a rotating column of 125 stainless steel discs was necessary for it to relate to the scale of the buildings and the surrounding open space. The overall height including a 2M stone platform raised the work to 12M. Due to the wind load and forces on the structure it was essential to build an independent structural inner spine to tie the rotating column. The spine was manufactured from mild steel and then galvanised both for protection and longevity.
Having known of the reliability and quality of Aycliffe Fabrications work by previously consulting with them on various projects I was more than happy on this occasion to ask them to undertake the fabrication of my sculpture. It was a pleasure to work with them in every detail of the work, where they provided a quality service and I look forward to working with them again in the future."
