巨型魚雕塑 讓社區藝術走進公園

英國波爾頓(Bolton)市議會計畫的一座新公共雕塑，在皇后公園(Queen's Park)已經可以看到，高豎起的比魚還像魚的雕像。

藝術家瑪姬‧哈格里維斯(Maggie Hargreaves)接下這個計畫，用金屬做成三公尺長的魚，表面是木頭製成的鱗片。鱗片是可以移動的，將來可以替換。瑪姬表示，他選擇用這個魚的雕塑，是因為它「提供了讓許多人可以參與結構設計的機會。」

這個雕塑是波爾頓市議會和波爾頓大學(University of Bolton)合作之後決定完成的，他們皆詢問過學生的意見，在主題是「自然」的前提下，請學生們為公園的公共藝術品提供想法。波爾頓市議會首先對於可能的雕塑提出簡短的簡報，他們要為沿著河岸的地方找一個有趣的雕塑。

當這座雕塑被決定要設置在克羅阿爾河(the River Croal)旁時，純藝術的學生瑪姬看到霎時有了理想的靈感，特別是她的背景，在轉藝術之前，曾經過生物學家的訓練。

「我的靈感來自河流，就某方面來說它為公園帶來了生命，把魚跟植物等生物帶進來讓他們環繞公園。雖然我最初在大學裡接受生物學家的訓練，但我也一直都對藝術有著濃厚的興趣，而許多研究技法和追求想法的過程都是相似的。」

她解釋說，市議會要做這個雕塑，這是她的第一個公共藝術品，在更寬廣的公共場合，包含更多的投入的元素，於是有了可以更換雕塑上面木頭鱗片的想法。「一隻魚有這麼多鱗片，提供許多人機會，能夠參與這項結構的設計。」

他們希望透過本地人的努力，目標讓參與製作這個雕塑品的團體，一同讓公園恢復生氣。而市議會用的木頭，也需要從林地管理的公園搬運木頭，他們非常衷心的希望這些木頭可以再次利用。

「可以持續保存很久的金屬骨架和木頭鱗片，所有的部份集結在一起成為魚的雕塑，還有個人的獨特的設計，由本地社區成員完成。」「可供替換的鱗片，是這項設計的最終成果。木頭依附在金屬骨架上面，但其實最後是允許它們替換的，進一步讓社區的團體在未來可以有機會去變化、更新這條魚。」

鱗片的最初版本是Gilnow社區國小(Gilnow CP School)、波爾頓的青少年社團(Bolton Lads and Girls Club)以及Firwood學院製作出來的。瑪姬表示，「他們非常興奮且看好作品的前景，能在公共的空間展出，雕塑的設計顏色多采多姿，吸引眾人目光，通常一般人是很難有這個機會能從事這樣的創作的。」

編按：一般台灣的公共藝術，通常都是選擇知名藝術家的作品為多，設置程序又多又雜，常常只會想要剝削藝術家，並沒有深入瞭解藝術本身的價值和意義。編者前陣子參加2010 BenQ國際雕塑營，國外的藝術家多有讓公共藝術貼近人群的想法，例如說設置大型三輪車，讓藝術品與人可以互動。現在英國更有這樣先進的想法，讓民眾可以動手去完成、參與一樣長久存在公共藝術，實為難得，這也是台灣很好的楷模。

原文出自：http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/manchester/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_9125000/9125204.stm

Giant fish brings community into Queen's Park in Bolton

Bolton Council's new public sculpture in Queen's Park has seen the erection of something rather fishy.

Artist Maggie Hargreaves answered a call for submissions with a plan for a three-metre long fish made out of metal and covered in wooden scales.The scales are removable, allowing them to be swapped in the future.

Maggie said she chose a fish because it "provides opportunity for many people to be involved in the design of the structure".

The sculpture came about after a team-up between Bolton Council and the University of Bolton, who came together to ask students to submit ideas for a new art work in the park, under a theme of 'nature'.

As it was to be placed near the River Croal, Fine Arts student Maggie saw that as the ideal inspiration - particularly with her own background, as she trained as a biologist before turning to art.

"Initially, Bolton Council gave a brief for possible sculptures; they were looking for an interesting structure for the area along the banks of the river.

"I initially trained at University as a biologist but was always interested in art as well. "Many of the research skills and inquisitive thought processes are similar."

She explained that the Council asked for the sculpture, her first public work, to include some input from the wider community, which led her to the idea of the interchangeable wooden scales.

"They wanted to involve groups in the production of the work with the aim of revitalising the park through local involvement.

"With multiple scales, a fish provides opportunity for many people to be involved in the design of the structure.

"The council also had wood which had to be removed from the park in management of the woodland there, which they were keen to see reused.

All these strands came together in the fish structure - a long lasting metal skeleton with wooden scales which could carry individual designs by local members of the community.

"The removable scales were a result of the design; the wood had to be hung on the metal framework, but as a result it allowed them to be removable and hence further community groups could have the opportunity to renew the fish in future."

The initial scales have been produced by the children of Gilnow CP School, Bolton Lads and Girls Club, and Firwood School.

Maggie said they were "excited at the prospect of their work being on display in a public space and made eye-catching colourful designs on a material they would not normally have the chance to paint on."