21 October 2011
A striking new sculpture of a mermaid has been unveiled at The Bridge in Dartford, Kent. Set on a rock structure in the development's North Lake, the Mermaid - which is over 9 metres high with a 14 metre wide tail - marks the start of The Bridge sculpture trail and promises to become an icon for the local area.
The Sculpture Trail is the work of local artist William Jordan and it was commissioned by Prologis and Dartford Borough Council, the joint venture partnership behind the development of The Bridge. The Trail, which will eventually comprise 12 pieces of art, is being made primarily from re-cycled materials. The Mermaid itself is made from a combination of different metals, around 80% of which are re-cycled. The rock structure on which she sits has been formed using re-cycled concrete and natural stone and it has been planted to provide a habitat for water voles.
According to William Jordan, the Mermaid reflects the convergence of earth and water at The Bridge and the surrounding area. He said: "The Mermaid represents balance within the natural world and she will be the guardian of the development."
A second artwork, the Solar Tree has already been installed outside the SusCon building and two further sculptures are already underway. Paul Weston, Senior Vice President at Prologis said: "We are delighted that the Sculpture Trail is starting to take shape and that Will is able to use so much re-cycled material in his sculptures. Sustainability is one of the driving principles behind The Bridge, so it is impressive to see such a creative approach to sustainable public art."
"The Sculpture Trail will create a new amenity for Dartford and demonstrate that art can be both accessible and fun,” said Jeremy Kite, Leader of Dartford Borough Council. "The Mermaid is a fabulous sculpture and I am sure that it will be a landmark for Dartford."
Click here for more information about the The Bridge Dartford.
