‘Telegraph pole’ artwork installed in Trinity Market
Hopes to spark a conversation
A NEW “telegraph pole” has been unveiled in Hull’s Trinity Market with a twist.
Resident artist Keith Key has partnered up with fellow Hull-born artist Emma Mulcahy to create their new piece Roots Of Communication. The artwork aims to raise awareness between the relationship of trees and human communications, all while encouraging local companies to share their infrastructure.
The thought-provoking artwork is made entirely from recycled materials with the main trunk being a commemoration of a tree that fell during a storm in North Hull.
Keith has been making art exhibitions reusing old timber and, growing up, had always taken an interest in trees, which led him to become an environmentalist.
A member of the St Ninians Cubs and Scouts, he would often go camping.
In his younger days, Keith admitted to carving his name into one of the trees of Pearson Park close to where he grew up, where his father told him the importance of trees.
The two artists are currently studying for their Fine Arts degree at Hull College of Fine Arts and at the University of Hull.
Keith and Emma hope the sculpture will start discussions as they both feel that an environmentally-friendly solution to the ongoing telegraph pole situation is needed.
They said: “The unnecessary use of poles is having a major effect, not just the overuse use of trees, but also the harm to insects, birds and bees with the excess use of creosote.
“As well as the environmental issues, it’s also causing major disruptions in the community, with obstructions on the pavements and an aesthetic degradation of our surroundings.
“How much police and political time has been wasted on an issue, which you’d think genuine environmentally-conscious companies would have sorted between themselves?”
Joining the artwork will be a film called A Little Less Conversation A Little More Action Please, which will explain the origins of the artwork. The film can be viewed until May 20.
Roots Of Communication can be found at the Lowgate entrance of Trinity Market.
Once the exhibition is over, the artwork will be moved to a permanent place in the Rooted Community Garden, in St Peter Street, which is open to the public from 10am each day.