Mothership
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| Artist Name(s) | Rachel Joynt |
| Artwork title | Mothership |
| Context/Background | Mothership was commissioned in 1998 through an open competition which fell under the Per for Art Scheme for the Dun Laoghaire Drainage Scheme. The work is sited in Newtownsmith; between Dun Laoghaire and Glasthule. It has over time become an iconic and popular work that has captured public imagination. Its scale and form leads itself to inter-action, as its is possible to climb into the body of the shell. |
| Description | The work, made of cast bronze and stainless steel, depicts a sea urchin positioned on its side and suspended in motion leaving a trail of metal silver droplets. It is as if the sea urchin has been thrown up onto the shore by a wave. Positioned at a slight angle, we can follow the moving sea urchin's tracks - small stainless steel discs - as it spins to a halt, and surprisingly remains upright. The sea urchin is a confident statement of clear sea water, made possible by Dun Laoghaire Drainage Scheme. On a more subtle level the diameter chosen for the piece is the same diameter that is used in the tunnelling and pipe construction involved in the Drainage Scheme. The work is positioned to allow the viewer to look through it and out to open sea. |
| Commission Type | Local Authority |
| Commissioner Name | Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council |
| Project commission dates | January 1, 1998 - January 7, 1999 |
| Artform | Visual Arts |
| Funded By | Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Co. Council |
| Percent for art | Yes |
| Project commission start date | 01/01/1998 |
| Project commission end date | 07/01/1999 |
| County | Dublin |
| Town | Dun Laoghaire |
| Google Map Insert | View this projects location |
| Website | www.racheljoynt.com/mothership-1999/ |
| Content contributor(s) | Ciara King |
| Relationship to project | Public Art Programme Administrator |
