Alliance (sculpture) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alliance |
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| Artist | Jean-Bernard Métais |
| Year | 2009 |
| Type | Metal sculpture |
| Dimensions | 25 metres (82 ft) tall 17 metres (56 ft) diameter |
| Location | The Hayes, Cardiff |
| 51°28′40.8″N 3°10′31.44″W / 51.478000°N 3.1754000°W | |
| Owner | St David's |
Alliance is a super tall sculpture in the middle of Cardiff, Wales. It stands about 25 meters (82 feet) high! A French artist named Jean-Bernard Métais created it. The idea for the sculpture came from art critic Hervé-Armand Béchy.
The sculpture is made of shiny stainless steel. It looks like a giant arrow and a big hoop. The hoop even glows in the dark! The St David’s shopping centre paid for Alliance. It was part of a big project to add public art to Cardiff city centre. The sculpture was first shown to everyone on December 3, 2009.
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What Does Alliance Look Like?
The Alliance sculpture has an arrow and a hoop that seem to float in the air. The hoop is special because it's filled with a liquid that glows. Part of the hoop is hidden under the ground. It's programmed to move up and down with the ocean tides of the Bristol Channel.
Métais, the artist, calls Alliance an "organic clock." He says it connects the place with the people who live there.
Words on the Pavement
At night, words appear on the pavement around the sculpture. These words are written in both English and Welsh. A poet from Cardiff, Peter Finch, wrote them. The words are projected from inside the arrow. They are a fun way to play with the name Cardiff. They also tell stories about the city's past and present.
How Alliance Was Chosen
The city held a big competition to find the perfect artwork for Cardiff. They wanted something that would fit well and become a new landmark. Artists from all over the world sent in their ideas. About 120 artists took part!
The Finalists
Only five artists were chosen as finalists. They included Tony Cragg, Lulu Quinn, and John Kennedy from England. Roxy Paine from New York City was also a finalist. And of course, Jean-Bernard Métais was chosen.
Some people were worried because no Welsh artists were on the final list. But Wiard Sterk, from a Welsh public arts group called Safle, explained. He said that Welsh artists were considered throughout the whole project.
Why Métais's Design Won
Jean-Bernard Métais had created art for cities worldwide before. One of his famous works is an hourglass sculpture in France. The judges felt that Alliance was big enough for its spot. It stands at the end of The Hayes. This area is between the Central Library, the John Lewis store, and the St David's shopping centre.
Building the Sculpture
Work to put up the Alliance sculpture started on November 16, 2009. It was finished very quickly, in just two weeks!
The huge sculpture was brought to the city centre on three very long trucks. A giant crane then lifted the pieces into place. Alliance touches the ground in three spots. Its foundations go three meters (about 10 feet) deep to keep it stable.
