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    Shire Extra for lanarkshire Shire Extra Across Lanarkshire

Rutherglen – Cunningar Loop Hope Structure

Background

Situated adjacent to the Plaza in the Cuningar Loop community park is a figure of an androgynous child with its arms outstretched, perched on 20-metre-high columns. It is part of a gift from over fifty companies who donated free materials and expertise for the project, including the engineering firm Ramboll who acted as the lead consultant. It was unveiled during the COP26 Summit in 2021.

The Cuningar Loop is a former industrial and landfill site that has been converted into a woodland park and recreation area, which also contains riverside walkways, a BMX track, climbing stones, a children’s play area and several public artworks.

Called ‘Hope,’ this sculpture is fixed on top of a quadropod depicting ‘brick chimney stalks’ that were once a common feature of the East End of Glasgow. However, the stalks used for this structure are made of low carbon 100% cement free concrete, incorporating locally sourced aggregates. The child is also made of recycled crushed glass and other locally sourced materials.

The structure is also illuminated at night, using soft low energy lights that are respectful of the environment and local wildlife.

The age, gender and race neutral ‘Child of Hope’ on top is said to be reaching out to a greener, hopeful and more positive future. The sculpture is also accompanied by mental health signposts a few yards away, which list a range of support services.  Local writers, poets and local school children have also written ‘Words of Hope’ that are engraved onto stones at its base, in collaboration with the Mental Health Foundation. Writers included Jackie Kay, Andrew O’Hagan, Ali Smith and 2020 Booker Prize winner Douglas Stuart. Local child writers included Burnside Primary pupil Fraser Kirkwood, aged nine, and 11-year-old St Columbkille’s pupil, Luca Miller.

The 23-metre-high Hope sculpture in the Cuningar Loop park was designed by Steuart Padwick. It has two companion structures that include a a 4.5-metre-high wooden figure on the main concourse at Glasgow Central station and a 3.5-metre-high sculpture featuring three figures in the gardens of Strathclyde University.

To see more works by Steuart Padwick click HERE.

To visit Steuart Padwick’s Facebook page click HERE.

 

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