Cardiff Bay’s SCULPTURES

Sculptural seats of ceramic tiles

Gwen Heaney was inspired in 1994 by the creatures described by Dylan Thomas in his poem ‘the Ballad of the long legged bait’ and created the beastie benches found in Britannia Quay.

This War Memorial sculpted by Brian Fell in 1966, is a memorial to the Merchant Seamen of Cardiff Bay. The sculptor seamed together the beached hull of a ship and a timeless face. The surrounding mosaic by Shenstone and Butler carries inscriptions and portraits of local wartime seafarers.

Merchant Seafarers’ War Memorial

Merchant Seafarers’ War Memorial, text

The "From Pit to Port" sculpture in Cardiff Bay.

Designed and constructed by John Clinch, 1934 - 2001, and finished by Jon Buck in 2005, the bronze sculpture celebrates the link between the Port of Cardiff and the industrial areas in the Welsh Valleys.

English

The Scott Antarctic Memorial - Cardiff Bay

In response to an initiative by the British Antarctic Heritage Trust to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the ’Age of Antarctic Discovery’, the Captain Scott Society, in conjunction with the South Wales Echo, launched a prize for a sculpture to be erected in Cardiff Bay. The winner was Cardiff based sculptor, Jonathan Williams. The monument is surfaced in an irregular mosaic of white and near-white tiles that evoke the desolation and grandeur of the Antarctic ice. The design represents Scott, man-hauling South towards the Pole while the faces of his colleagues can be seen trapped in the snow. The northern end of the statue reveals the foresails of the expedition’s vessel, the Terra Nova. An enigmatic cavern that pierces the structure represents the ice cave so vividly depicted in Ponting’s photographs of the expedition. The monument stands on a compass rose and is located between the Norwegian Church and the lock through which the Terra Nova emerged on its fateful journey South. The proximity to the little Church, originally built for use by Norwegian seamen, is a poignant reminder that Scott was beaten to the Pole by the Norwegian explorer, Roald Amundsen. The church is now deconsecrated and has been a fitting venue for Captain Scott Society functions. It also acts as a reminder that the author Roald Dahl was a native of Cardiff.

Captain Scott Antartic Memorial

The Memorial was formally unveiled by her Royal Highness, the Princess Royal, on June 6th., 2003.

The structure has now been illuminated at night by embedded up-lighting, thereby fulfilling the vision that the monument will be a conspicuous landmark for sailors as they enter the Bay through the locks in the recently completed Cardiff barrage. The barrage transforms the bay, from a viciously tidal, double estuary to an attractive, fresh water amenity - the focus for extensive redevelopment of the once bustling coal port into a recreational area offering a wide range of recreational and gastronomic facilities.

Roald Dahl Plass, text

Roald Dahl Plass

Statue of Ivor NOVELLO, Welsh composer, playwright and film actor; 1893 - 1951

In this city was born a king who gave his city dreams and songs to sing.

Ivor NOVELLO

http://www.novellowales.com/english.htm