The Kelpies: Giant Horse Sculptures in Falkrik

May 29, 2014 3 comments

The Kelpies are two towering horse-head sculptures, standing next to the Forth and Clyde Canal, in Helix park, in Falkrik, in Scotland. The sculptures form a gateway at the eastern entrance to the Forth and Clyde canal, and the new canal extension built as part of The Helix land transformation project. The 300-ton, 30-meter sculptures were created by Glasgow artist Andy Scott,inspired by the shape shifting mythological creature by the same name that haunts the rivers and streams of Scotland and is known to posses the strength and endurance of 10 horses - quality that is analogous with the transformational change and endurance of Scotland's inland waterways. The Kelpies represent the lineage of the heavy horse of Scottish industry and economy, pulling the wagons, ploughs, barges and coalships that shaped the geographical layout of the Falkirk area.

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According to sculptor Andy Scott:

"The original concept of mythical water horses was a valid starting point for the artistic development of the structures. took that concept and moved with it towards a more equine and contemporary response, shifting from any mythological references towards a socio-historical monument intended to celebrate the horse’s role in industry and agriculture as well as the obvious association with the canals as tow horses.”

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Comments

  1. You need to learn your measurement units. The kelpies are 30 metres tall not 30 feet tall as you state

    ReplyDelete
  2. Surely taller than 30ft

    ReplyDelete
  3. Is that the right spelling? Should it be Falkirk?

    ReplyDelete

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