Royal Quays Marina:
river's edge
description
a bright orange-red abstract sculpture made from steel I-beams measuring approximately 21m high by 15m wide. Three legs form a tripod beneath a vane consisting of 2 beams jutting out in a V-shape. Balanced by a figure-of-eight shaped section at the end, this vane moves gently with the changing direction of the wind.
the artist
Mark di Suvero
is an internationally renowned American abstract expressionist sculptor. He was born Marco Polo Levi in Shanghai, China in 1933 to Italian parents and immigrated to San Francisco in 1942 with his family. From 1953 to 1957, he attended the University of California, Berkeley to study Philosophy before moving to New York. His work has been exhibited and commissioned around the world and Tyne Anew is his first commission in the UK and one of only two works by the artist in Britain - the other work, Nelly (1986), is at Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
the work
Tyne Anew is chracteristic of the artist's trademark style - distinctive, large bold pieces, bright colours and the balancing of heavy wooden or steel elements so that they dynamically interact with the surrounding space. The form of Tyne Anew is obviously similar to the many shipyard cranes that tower over the river frontage, though its colour ensures it stands out against the background. Its size and shape are reminiscent of previous works such as Mahatma (New York State, 1978-9) and Huru (Massachusetts, 1984 -5) both of which counterbalance V-shaped horizontal sections with curved forms. Tyne Anew’s moving vane resembles a compass point and its gentle movement means that the sculpture’s shape constantly changes as the wind swings round.
the context
Di Suvero enthused about the location at Royal Quays, saying ‘You get to see certain sites and they really are glorious. This is one of them. It’s a worker’s site and it appeals to me because I live by a river, the East River in New York’. After an initial visit in 1997, he returned to New York and constructed the sculpture from spare elements stored in his yard. These were then shipped to Liverpool before being sandblasted and painted in Shildon to be installed on site under the supervision of the artist. Located so near to the terminal for Scandinavian ferries, the work is seen by around 600,000 visitors each year. ‘The North-East is rich in history and the legacy of heavy industry is everywhere you look’ said Di Suvero. ‘I wanted to add to this feeling of the past impacting on the present. Tyne Anew will be a constant reminder to people of the industrial foundations the North East is built on’.
Royal Quays Art Trail
Tyne Anew is one of eight artworks currently installed in the Royal Quays area. For a full list of all eight artworks click here
Following the route shown by marker 'A' links with Sea Dreamer's Rest at the east end of the loch wall - click here to go there.
Following the route shown by marker 'B' links with Lookout Point on the rise to the west of the marina. LINKS ARE NOT YET CREATED
