Niarbyl sculpture: Manx artist reveals plans for 'portal' artwork

The structure could be installed at Niarbyl

Plans for new public artwork near to the Isle of Man's coastal footpath have been revealed by a renowned sculptor.

Bryan Kneale MBE, who was born in Douglas, has applied to the Isle of Man Arts Council for funding to create 'Eelips' at Niarybl.

He said it would be "wonderful to make something" for the island's landscape.

Subject to planning approval, the sculpture would be funded by the council, and other bodies, with Mr Kneale donating his time and fee.

Mr Kneale left the Isle of Man as a young man, but had given the island one of its best-known public works, a sculpture based on the Manx triskelion outside the island's airport.

He has produced works for cathedrals in Westminster and Portsmouth and his designs have been exhibited around the world.

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

A spokesman from the Kneale family said the piece, which would sit close to the Raad ny Foillan coastal footpath, seeks to be a "respectful yet poignant addition to the island's coastline".

Using two and three-dimensional forms, the sculpture had been "designed to physically frame the landscape, creating a portal crossing time and place, a space for contemplation and passage", he said.

Mr Kneale said he had a long-held ambition to install an artwork in the Manx landscape.

"I'm fairly obsessed with the place I came from, the Isle of Man, which is mountainous and by the sea.

"It would be wonderful to make something which would work in that landscape," he said.

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 project would also be delivered in partnership with Manx National Heritage.

Residents interested to learn more can attend a pre-planning consultation at Dalby Schoolrooms from 12:00 to 18:30 GMT on 8 February.

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