Fish & Ships,LIVERPOOL
A windy quayside site,near the Marina, on the river Mersey is the site for”FISH&SHIPS”,
a wind-driven Kinetic sculpture.
LIVERPOOL has a very long history of Marine trade & commerce,served by huge fleets of Merchant Vessels,which plied to destinations all over the globe.Industrial products,raw materials,goods & human cargoes were shipped through the Port of Liverpool.Some people arrived in chains, imported as slaves,others were deported as convicts to the colonies,& many millions departed as emigrants,migrating to a new world.
Here at the end of the quay,Iron bollards remain set into the masonry,& were once used for “warping” ships in & out of the dock.The last ropes linking ship to shore, were cast off here,as the vessels entered the Mersey,& put to sea. This is a place of many sailings & sad farewells. There has been a lot of” leaving of Liverpool”, leaving from from these quays.
Time, like the Mersey,flows on,& the people who have not left Liverpool,have found new uses for the old docks. They live,work,& play here. Pleasure craft sail from the Marina,new housing & technologies are replacing the old polluting technologies.
Marine life is returning, & local people go fishing in the river again.
FISH&SHIPS is one of a dozen kinetic &Interactive artworks,commissioned by Liverpool City Council for a “WINTERS TRAIL”
Designed to illustrate,Liverpools rich History & cultural heritage, the project was organised by the Liverpool Lantern Company &WILD IN ART.
A WINTERS TRAIL runs from Feb.14th until the 20th March,& is FREE!
By popular demand, “Fish & Ships “will remain at at Coburg Wharf until May.
To download a free MAP of the trail,& find out about the other sculptures, sound pieces & artists , visit
www. liverpooldiscovers.co.uk
