City gets sculpture back after 47 years
A HUGE iron sculpture that represents Wales’ mining history has returned to Cardiff after almost 50 years.
The Untitled Sculpture, by artist Garth Evans, was placed in The Hayes in 1972 as a symbol of South Wales’ mining past.
The sculpture has made a return to its original location, outside the Tabernacle church this week, following a crowdfunding campaign by Chapter Arts Centre to bring it home. With support from Art Happens with Art Fund, more than £17,000 was donated.
Chapter is making a short documentary film in celebration of the sculpture and is on the lookout for anyone with memories of the work. The piece of art was originally part of the Peter Stuyvesant City Sculpture project and was one of 16 new works put in eight UK cities.
After spending six months in the city in 1972, the sculpture was sent to Leicestershire where it has remained unseen by the public ever since.
Mr Evans was inspired to create the sculpture as he had very strong family connections with Wales.
Mr Evans said: “My mother grew up in Pencoed and my grandfather and my mother’s brothers were coal miners in the region. As a child, I spent summers in South Wales and I vividly remember listening to my uncles and other men talk of their lives underground, in the dark. I wanted to make something that I felt had a connection to the coal mining and steel making industries of South Wales.”
The sculpture will be in place until March.
■ If you remember the sculpture and have a story to share, email hannah. firth@chapter.org