世界初！産業構造物のリユースプロジェクト

©︎ Ben Birchall/PA Wire

ガス掘削のための海上プラットフォームを生まれ変わらせたパブリックアートインスタレーション〈SEE MONSTER〉は、無料のイベントやインスタレーション、世界中からアクセス可能なデジタル体験を特徴とし、イギリスにて開催されているクリエイティブの祭典「UNBOXED」のため作成された、世界初となる産業構造物のリユースプロジェクトです。

高さ10mの滝が奏でる轟音やデッキからの素晴らしい眺めから「気象」に畏敬の念を感じ、その背後にある「科学」を知り、化石燃料のための施設の再利用という試みや、アーティストによる持続可能エネルギーの実験から「実現可能な未来」を知るための機会を提供しています。

イギリスの都市リーズを拠点に活動するクリエイティブスタジオ ニューサブスタンス（NEWSUBSTANCE）が主導した、科学、工学、芸術という分野の垣根を超えたプロジェクトです。

（以下、NEWSUBSTANCEから提供されたプレスキットのテキストの抄訳）

©︎ Ben Birchall/PA Wire

世界初となる、ガス掘削施設のリユースプロジェクト

イギリス南部、ウェストン＝スーパー＝メアの海辺に建つ〈SEE MONSTER〉は、廃棄されたガス掘削のための海上プラットフォームを生まれ変わらせたパブリックアートインスタレーションである。2022年9月24日から11月5日まで一般公開されている。

この世界初となる転用は、リユースや再生可能エネルギー、そしてイギリスの天候についての議論を喚起することを目的としている。

©︎ Ben Birchall/PA Wire

〈SEE MONSTER〉は、さまざまなデジタル体験を特徴とするクリエイティブの祭典「UNBOXED」の一環として委託されたものである。

高さは35mの建物には4つのレベルが用意されており、高さ10mの滝が奏でる轟音、モンスターを通り抜けるさまざまなルートを提供する滑り台、6000個のきらめく鱗で形成された「キネティック・インスタレーション」、海辺の気候に適した草や木で構成された野生の庭「キネティック・ウィンド・スカルプチャー」、アーティストがデザインした持続可能エネルギーの実験、デッキからの素晴らしい眺め、底部に設けられた放送スタジオが特長である。また、これらの施設はすべて無料で体験することができる。

©︎ Ben Birchall/PA Wire

アーティストによる持続可能エネルギーの実験

アーティストのトレバー・リー（Trevor Lee）がデザインした、アートと再生可能エネルギーを組み合わせた「WindNest」は、風力と太陽光によりクリーンエネルギーを生み出し、〈SEE MONSTER〉のガーデンラボの灌水システムに電力を供給している。

キネティック彫刻家のイヴァン・ブラック（Ivan Black）は、風によって動く太陽と月を表現した2つの彫刻を作成した。

©︎ Ben Birchall/PA Wire

ニューサブスタンスの創設者兼クリエイティブディレクターであるパトリック・オマホニー（Patrick O’Mahony）は次のように語る。

「〈SEE MONSTER〉は、科学、工学、芸術という分野の垣根を超えたコラボレーションと、UNBOXEDの意欲的な性質によって可能となった、極めてユニークなプロジェクトである。私たちは、今後のグローバルなリユースプロジェクトの青写真を提供しうる、『世界初の産業構造物のリユースプロジェクト』に携わることができ、非常に感動している。」

©︎ Ben Birchall/PA Wire

イギリス南極観測所の科学者であり、〈SEE MONSTER〉の気候科学アドバイザーであるエラ・ギルバート博士（Ella Gilbert）は、次のように語る。

「〈SEE MONSTER〉は、気候科学の歴史がいかに気候を形成してきたか、そして、石油やガス掘削のためのプラットフォームといったインフラを再利用することでいかに我々の未来を変えることができるかを我々に想起させるものである。」

「私たちは、化石燃料への依存がもたらす負の影響について知っている。しかし、私たちが社会をより良く変えることができる方法について耳にすることはない。〈SEE MONSTER〉は、私たちが共に創造できるソリューションや実現可能な未来について見聞きし、気象がつくる壮大な光景や音に畏怖と驚きを感じ、その背後にある科学に興奮し、それらが『私たちの地球を理解する』ために役立つ、ということを学ぶ機会を提供しているのである。」

〈SEE MONSTER〉をデジタル体験できる3Dツアー特設サイトはこちら

https://seemonster.co.uk/virtual-tour/#s=pano15916

以下、NEWSUBSTANCEのリリース（英文）です。

North Sea gas platform transformed into major public art installation in Weston-super-Mare

SEE MONSTER, a decommissioned North Sea offshore platform transformed into one of the UK’s largest public art installations, will welcome the public onboard for the first time from Saturday 24 September at the Tropicana on Weston-super-Mare’s seafront. This world-first transformation aims to inspire conversations about reuse, renewables, and the great British weather.
SEE MONSTER, commissioned as part of UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK, features four publicly accessible levels animated by a 10-metre-high waterfall; a multi-level slide offering an alternative route through the monster, a 6,000-piece kinetic installation forming the monster’s shimmering scales; kinetic wind sculptures; a wild garden of grasses, plants and trees selected to thrive in a seaside micro-climate; artist-designed experiments in sustainable energy generation; a seated amphitheatre, unrivalled views out to sea from the helideck and, at its base, a broadcast studio.
The entire construction is 35 metres tall – 15 metres taller than the Angel of the North and just 11 metres shy of Nelson’s Column and can be experienced from the SEE MONSTER viewing platform at the Tropicana, seafront, beach and on board for free.

The transformation of an industrial structure into a public installation suitable for visitors is an unprecedented engineering achievement that has been led by Leeds-based creative studio NEWSUBSTANCE. In July, the 450-tonne platform was transported by sea on a barge as large as a football pitch to the beach at Weston-super-Mare, famous for having the second highest tidal range in the world. It was then lifted by crane over the seawall onto preconstructed legs within the Tropicana.

SEE MONSTER’s Garden Lab, will feature 9-metre-high trees, plants and grasses, selected to be resilient to salty breezes and Atlantic gales; SEE MONSTER’s roar, the waterfall, will continually recirculate through the pools at its base; and the impact of the weather will be seen and heard as the wind moves through the installations and garden, intended to prompt discussion about the science behind the great British weather and how it can support a sustainable future.

WindNest, designed by artist Trevor Lee, brings together art and renewable energy and comprises two rotating airborne pods, generating clean energy through wind and solar technology that will power the irrigation system for The Garden Lab. WindNest is made in collaboration with Land Art Generator Initiative, an art and design-led renewable energy team that looks for innovative solutions to help achieve a net-zero carbon future.

Kinetic sculptor, Ivan Black, has created two sculptures representing the sun and moon that are set in motion by the wind. Sections of the sculptures rotate on their symmetrical axes and are designed to be in constant chaotic but graceful motion. Made from aluminium, they are designed to withstand the elements particularly the corrosive salt in the sea air and to instil a sense of wonder as to how they work. Ivan describes them as much as works of engineering as art and said: “I hope they will inspire others to think creatively about engineering.”

Patrick O’Mahony, Creative Director and Founder of NEWSUBSTANCE said, “SEE MONSTER is an incredibly unique project, made possible through cross-sector collaboration and the ambitious nature of the UNBOXED commission. We are incredibly excited to be the first people in the world to reuse a structure in this way, with its potential to provide a blueprint for future global reuse projects.

“From the roar of the waterfall to the shimmering scales, we invite our audience to ascend the monster, running through clouds and exploring wild gardens until they reach the summit where they can see our monster’s home from a new perspective. We are thrilled that the public can now board SEE MONSTER, after witnessing its transformation over the past few months. We hope this once-in-a-lifetime experience, that started as an experiment in education and creativity in Weston-super-Mare, will go on to have a much greater and long-lasting legacy.”

Dr Ella Gilbert, scientist, British Antarctic Survey and climate science advisor to SEE MONSTER said: “SEE MONSTER reminds us how our industrial history has shaped our climate, and how we can transform our future by repurposing infrastructure like oil and gas platforms. We know about the negative impact of our dependence on fossil fuels. Less often do we hear about the ways in which we can transform society for the better.

“SEE MONSTER is an opportunity to see and hear about the kind of solutions and possible futures we can create together and to be awed and amazed by the spectacular sights and sounds of the weather; to be excited by the science behind it; and to learn how it helps us understand our planet.”

UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK is a celebration of creativity taking place across the UK until 5 November. Presented in over 100 locations around the UK, it features ten major multi-site and digital creative projects that share new ideas and possibilities for the future and are produced by creatives from across science, technology, engineering and the arts.

Martin Green, Chief Creative Officer, UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK said, “SEE MONSTER is an inspirational and awe-inspiring project that embodies the ambition of UNBOXED, to celebrate creative collaboration across science, engineering and the arts. The transformation of a decommissioned platform into one of the UK’s most ambitious public art installations has been an unprecedented undertaking and offers a blueprint for the reuse of industrial structures that everyone involved should be proud of.”

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Stuart Andrew said: “Since March, UNBOXED has showcased the UK’s excellence in creativity through each of its 10 commissions.

“Bringing together artists and engineers, SEE MONSTER is another example of how this programme is showcasing the UK’s creative sectors and engaging communities right across this country with great days out and cultural experiences.”

UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK is funded and supported by the four governments of the UK and is commissioned and delivered in partnership with Belfast City Council, Creative Wales and EventScotland.

North Somerset Council have supported the project throughout and have been integral to bringing SEE MONSTER to Weston-super-Mare.

Mark Canniford, Executive Member for Placemaking and Growth at North Somerset Council, said: “The Monster continues to offer a huge boost for our local economy at this time of year, and the final stage of people boarding the platform will bring additional visitors to North Somerset during the autumn months, beyond the peak tourist season.

“The calibre and originality of the recent drone shows, which attracted tens thousands of people, have given us all a flavour of what to expect. If the Monster’s arrival was the appetiser and the drone show was the starter, we are all in for a real treat with the main course – the boarding – which is not to be missed.”

SEE MONSTER 公式サイト

https://seemonster.co.uk

NEWSUBSTANCE 公式サイト

https://newsubstance.co.uk

UNBOXED 公式サイト

https://unboxed2022.uk