The Kelpies, Scotland by Gert Hilbink

About "The Kelpies, Scotland"

by Gert Hilbink

About the artwork

The Kelpies are 30-metre-high horse-head sculptures depicting kelpies (shape-shifting water spirits), located between Falkirk and Grangemouth , but the Kelpies themselves are in Grangemouth, and stand next to an extension of the Forth and Clyde Canal , and near the River Carron , in The Helix , a park project built to connect sixteen communities in the Falkirk Council Area , Scotland. The sculptures were designed by sculptor Andy Scott and were completed in October 2013. The sculptures form a gateway at the eastern entrance to the Forth and Clyde Canal and Canal Extension built as part of The Helix land transformation project.
The name was chosen by Scottish Canals at the start of The Helix project in 2005 to reflect the mythological transforming beasts that possess the strength and endurance of ten horses. The Kelpies represent the lineage of the heavy horse of Scottish industry and economy, pulling the wagons, ploughs, barges and coal barges that formed the geographical layout of the Falkirk area.
According to sculptor Andy Scott "the original concept of mythical water horses was a valid starting point for the artistic development of the structures." He also said that he "took that concept and evolved with it into a more equestrian and contemporary response, shifting from all mythological references to a socio-historical monument intended to celebrate the role of the horse in industry and agriculture, as well as the obvious association with the canals as draft horses". In 2008, Scott created three-metre-high miniature versions in his Glasgow studio . These were then scanned by lasers to help steel manufacturers make accurate full-scale components.