The Kelpies are two 30 metre (100 ft) high horse-head sculptures located at the Forth and Clyde Canal in The Helix, a 350 hectare parkland project built to connect 16 communities in the Falkirk Council Area of Scotland. They are the largest public artworks in Scotland.
The sculptures were designed by sculptor Andy Scott and were completed in October 2013. The Kelpies are a monument to the horse powered heritage across Scotland.
The kelpie is a supernatural water horse from Celtic folklore, possessing the strength and endurance of 10 horses; a quality that is analogous with the transformational change and endurance of Scotland’s inland waterways.
Built of structural steel with a stainless steel cladding, The Kelpies weigh 300 tonnes each. While construction began in June 2013 and was complete by October 2013, the process of fabricating the steel was several years in the making.
Guided tours of The Kelpies begin on April 21st, 2014 and will be running 7 days a week between 10am – 3:30pm.
For more information on The Kelpies please visit the links listed below:
– Guided Tours and visitor information
– The history, construction and completion of The Kelpies
– Artworks by Sculptor Andy Scott
– The Kelpies Facebook page
– The Helix Facebook page
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
The Kelpies Construction Timelapse
If you enjoyed this post, the Sifter
highly recommends:
