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Roundup: Giant wind turbine blade finds home in Britain's Hull as work of art

Xinhua, January 9, 2017 Adjust font size:

As the people of Hull, Britain's new city of culture, slept Sunday in the early hours of a cold January, a massive operation took place to install a stunning piece of artwork.

The city's historic Queen Victoria Square became home for the next three months to a 75 meter-long wind turbine blade, a huge fiberglass component cast in one single piece.

In an snail's pace operation organised with military precision, the blade slowly made its way from a dockside factory on the city center outskirts through downtown streets. It meant traffic signals, road signs and overhead cables being removed to enable the blade to navigate street corners and junctions.

The blade is a gift to the city from the engineering giant Siemens to celebrate its culture year which started on Jan. 1.

The Hull Daily Mail newspaper called the work mindblowing.

Hundreds of Siemens workers applauded as Blade completed its journey to the city's main square.

The artwork is the brainchild of artist Nayan Kulkarni who used a rotor blade that would normally be a part of an offshore wind turbine.

It is the first in a series of major artworks that will be installed in public spaces around Hull as part of a year-long program for Hull 2017.

Martin Green, director of Hull 2017, said: "Nayan Kulkarni's Blade is a dramatic, yet graceful addition to Hull's city center. Despite its size, what is striking about the sculpture is its elegance."

"Putting this example of state of the art technology against the historic charms of Queen Victoria Square makes you look at this fine public space differently."

"It's a structure we would normally expect out at sea and in a way it might remind you of a giant sea creature, which seems appropriate with Hull's maritime history. It's a magnificent start to our program, which will see artists creating sight specific work throughout 2017 for locations around the city."

Blade will remain in Queen Victoria Square until March 18 and is expected to become a major tourist attraction.

Siemens UK chief executive Juergen Maier said: "We're hugely excited to have worked with Nayan Kulkarni and the City of Culture team on this dramatic, unique installation. Blade brings to life the engineering and manufacturing excellence of which we are so proud and makes it tangible for the people of Hull and visitors to the city."

"It feels perfect that Blade -- one of hundreds of 75 meter blades we will manufacture in Hull every year will be a prominent feature during the City of Culture Made in Hull season."

Artist Kulkarni said: "Blade seeks to transform Hull's streetscape through the imposition of a single wind turbine blade." Endit