Sculpture to 'pay tribute to Manx landscape'

The piece would be made from stainless steel and black marble

Plans for new public artwork would be a tribute to the Manx landscape, the artist’s family has said.

Subject to planning approval, Bryan Kneale MBE's "portal" sculpture called Eelips could be installed at a space at Niarybl.

The 8ft (2.4m) tall steel artwork would be funded by the Isle of Man Arts Council, and other bodies, with Mr Kneale donating his time and fee.

The Douglas-born artist's daughter Kate Kneale said drop-in sessions about the sculpture had given the family the opportunity to explain the piece and "allay concerns" about it.

The meetings in Dalby and Douglas featured a pop-up replica of the design and information boards for the public.

Tom Houghton, Mr Kneale's grandson, said the sculptural piece had been designed to inspire the "next generation of writers, sculptors, painters, illustrators".

Ms Kneale said although her father left the island as a young man, he had a "deep connection" to the island and he felt it had been "the energy force he had drawn on all his life".

She said: "I think he feels it's important to express that".

Ms Kneale said people had been "curious" about the artwork, which would sit close to the Raad ny Foillan coastal footpath, and there had been "both passions and concerns" about the materials and scale expressed at the sessions.

Mr Hougton said the family were "really grateful" for the feedback received and it would be used when creating a formal planning application.

The standing stones at Cashtal yn Ard, in Maughold, inspired the height of sculpture

If approved, the production, transportation and installation costs would be funded by the Isle of Man Arts Council via a lottery-funded grant, the Royal Academy of Arts Frampton fund and Culture Vannin.

The finished piece, to be delivered in partnership with Manx National Heritage which owns the land at Niarbyl, would be donated to the Isle of Man Arts Council Modern and Contemporary Art Loan Collection.