Having a whale of a time

Sculpture on Waterfront will career highlight for artist Lee

THE artist behind a new £130 , 0 0 0 s te e l w h a l e scu lpt u re on the cit y’s Waterfront has described the project as the highlight of his career.

Lee Simmons’ design for the centrepiece of the planned interactive playpark at Waterfront Place was selected by a panel of experts led by Dundee City Council.

The panel also included representatives from V&A Dundee, Abertay University and Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design.

Mr Simmons said he was proud his design has been chosen and he is excited about playing a part in improving the city’s “beautiful” Waterfront.

He said: “I visited the site in August last year and I was bowled over by just how beautiful the Waterfront is.

“It was an open competition from the council itself and I put in my first submission in October.

“I worked on it over the course of six months through to the final submission in February.

“I made a series of presentations to the council and the judging committee.”

The council set out a brief for the whale-like sculpture that would capture the history of the city last year.

The sculpture will form part of the planned Waterfront Place, which will include an urban beach, as well as an interactive children’s playpark and an active travel building.

Mr Simmons said he was keen to discover more about Dundee’s connections with the whaling industry and set about researching the history of the city as he prepared his application.

“During the research process I came across the historic whaling industry and the manufacturing of jute,” the 32-year-old explained.

“I’ve tried to captivate an imaginative, interactive design that can create interest in the city of Dundee.

“This will perhaps be the highlight of my portfolio.

“On a personal note, it means a lot to me to have been chosen and I’m looking forward to working on the project.”

Mr Simmons said he was hopeful the project, once started, could be completed in about 12 months.

Whale sculpture artist Lee Simmons.

An image of the proposed sculpture.