New sculpture by Manx artist to be unveiled

Bryan Kneale's steel Eelips artwork will be installed in a park in St John's

A new art installation intended to be a tribute to the Manx landscape is set to be unveiled.

Renowned sculptor Bryan Kneale's 8.2ft (2.5m) steel Eelips artwork will go on show from 25 October at the Tynwald National Park and Arboretum in St John's.

It had originally been suggested the piece would be placed in front of the cafe at Niarbyl, but the location was changed after feedback received at a public consultation.

Following a change in legislation in March, planning permission originally sought for the artwork at the new site was deemed no longer necessary for its installation.

The modern art sculpture will be made of duplex stainless steel, with its height inspired by the ancient cross stones found around the island.

Niarbyl was initially chosen as the site for the sculpture to be installed before public feedback

Born in Douglas in 1930, Mr Kneale left the Isle of Man as a young man to pursue his career.

The 95-year-old has works in the collections of prestigious institutions around the world including the Tate Collection, the New York Museum of Modern Art and the National Gallery of Victoria In Australia.

He is also known for having designed the Three Legs of Mann sculpture outside the Isle of Man Airport at Ronaldsway.

The cost of the project, including transportation and installation costs, has been estimated to be about £97,000, with Mr Kneale donating his time and fee.

Delivered in partnership with the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture, the Isle of Man Arts Council has also contributed £60,000 via a lottery-funded grant, with funding also provided by the Kneale family, the Frampton Fund, and Culture Vannin.

Mr Kneale's Three Legs of Man stands outside Ronaldsway Airport

Made of duplex stainless steel, the height of the artwork has been inspired by the ancient cross stones found around the island.

It will be the first sculpture by the artist to enter Isle of Man Arts Council Modern and Contemporary Loan Collection.

A formal planning application was submitted for the piece to be shown in St John's in November.

But an update to the Town and Country Planning (Permitted Development) Order in March meant that because it was a piece of public art, in a public space, on behalf of a public body, that was outside of a conservation area - permission from planners was no longer needed.

Set to be his last sculpture, Mr Kneale previously said it would be the realisation of "a long-held ambition to install an artwork in the Manx landscape".