Water and the climate crisis: structural engineering to support public art
Facilitating positive change through creativity and structural engineering
Our team of structural engineers is proudly supporting a new art installation that will explore water and the climate crisis at sites in Wigan and Devon.
Curated by public art commissioning organisation UP Projects, in partnership with the National Trust and Wigan Council, the ‘Bodies of Water’ installation is a series of public art commissions by German-Korean artist Anne Duk Hee Jordan.
It is funded by Arts Council England and supported by Goethe-Institut, with engineering support from our team here at Civic, led by director Andrew Ruck and senior associate Laura Norris from our London studio.
As Jordan’s first UK project, the art installation will take place in two locations. The first is Haigh Hall, a historic Grade II* listed country house owned by Wigan Council. The second, A la Ronde, is an 18th-century, 16-sided cottage near Exmouth which is under the ownership of the National Trust.
The commissions will see the artist confront the politics of water through an ecological lens. Aimed at raising awareness and inspiring action, the project places an emphasis on the relationship between public art and the climate crisis.
Exploring the notion that water moves in cycles, flowing from the environment through humans and other organisms, place-based partnerships informed the creation of the sculptural works that will harvest, filter and circulate rainwater.
Both works reference the history of each location, insights of local communities and the specialist knowledge from scientists, researchers and conservation specialists at Exeter University, RSPB and Julie's Bicycle.
Andrew Ruck, director in our London studio, said: “Creativity can facilitate positive change and is central to how we design as engineers, so it’s fantastic to support this ambitious art installation. The project will explore the critical relationship between water and the climate crisis, an issue we’re committed to addressing through our engineering with nature-based solutions. We’re proud to work with the team and share our expertise in complex structural engineering to bring the story to life for the communities of Wigan and Devon.”
Chris Ready, councillor and cabinet member for communities at Wigan Council: “This is such an exciting announcement for Wigan. Jordan is a world-renowned artist and will bring a creative installation to Haigh that hasn't been seen before. We hope the Hall and Woodland Park will be visited by residents of the borough and far wider. This is part of the wider redevelopment of the hall and park and is a brilliant opportunity to put Haigh on the map as a cultural destination.”
The installation at A La Ronde will be in situ between June and October, and will launch permanently at Haigh Hall in September, with a symposium in partnership with Liverpool Biennial on 11th September.