Public Art Research Archive, Sheffield Hallam University

Sculpture Parks: Margam Country Park, Port Talbot, Wales


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Artist: FAIRFAX, Mike
TitleOfWork: 'Riddle Me a Tree'
DateOfWork:
Dimensions:
Medium: wood
Location: Margam Country Park, Port Talbot
Country: UK - Wales
Photographer: Dave Ball
ImageCopyright: Sheffield Hallam University
The sculptures at Margam are administered by an independent trust 'Sculpture at Margam'. This is funded by Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council and assisted by The Arts Council of Wales.

This work was created for the 1992 Garden Festival Wales at Ebbw Vale as part of a project called 'Earthwords' - incorporating writers and artists in the creation of visual pieces for the Festival. In this instance the carving was carried out by Michael Fairfax, the words were by John Fairfax.
They describe the 7 panels as "Tombstones for indigenous trees in Ebbw Vale"*. When installed at Ebbw Vale the photographs in the Festival catalogue show the pieces lying horizontally on the ground, here they have been placed vertically.

The text on this piece states: "Oak is magic on every tongue". Oak apparantly signified triumph and strength and was also thought to have magical qualities in earlier times.

These photographs were taken in July 1994.

*from 'Alchemy' p.78 (ISBN 0-9519390-0-9) - the catalogue for the public art programme for the Garden Festival Wales




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Last updated 31 January 2005