Category: Public Sculpture

Embryonic Horse Inauguration

Post author By Rune
Post date September 1, 2024

Inauguration of “The Embryonic Horse” Bronze Sculpture in Floriana, 22nd July 2024

Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/MK6ZzjoEuMtB87uq

Proud to announce the inauguration of “The Embryonic Horse,” a bronze sculpture that now graces the historic site near the Wignacourt Water Tower in Floriana. The ceremony, part of the national “Art in Public Spaces” initiative, was attended by Parliamentary Secretary for Public Works Hon.Omar Farrugia, local authority officials, and members of the public.

The sculpture, created to emphasize the importance of animal welfare and environmental preservation, depicts a horse rolling at play in a cradled position under a canopy of trees. Its placement near the Wignacourt Water Tower, where horses have traditionally been refreshed, underscores the long-standing relationship between the site and animal care.

During the inauguration the Artist gave a heartfelt speech:

“Good Morning,

My name is Rune Bo Jakobsen and I am the artist of the ‘Embryonic Horse’.

I would like to thank you all for coming today for its inauguration!

Just short of noontime and already hot; we are lucky to be standing under these magnificent trees -providing us- and the horse with shade.

Floriana is exceptional for this – hosting a wealth of Gardens – giving animals and humans a connection with Nature – and a respite from the scorching sun.

I feel so fortunate that we finally have realised the ‘Embryonic Horse’ public artwork in this meaningful location – right next to the Wignacourt Water Tower and fountain where horses come to cool down and drink!

Since I was a kid going to a farm near my grandparents’ house in Denmark I used to draw and admire horses- their fascinating anatomy, powerful muscles, their giant dark eyes, walking on their toes and if you were lucky, you might see them enjoying rolling on their back like a playful dog!

The Inspiration to the ‘Embryonic Horse’ sculpture came to me over a decade ago. Living in Valletta I saw first-hand how the carriage horses were suffering in the hot sun for hours slipping uphill on the tarmac – sometimes even collapsing – just for the sake of a tourist pleasure ride. The horse drawn carriage reminds us of a time when horses were the only means of transport, easily navigating through the very narrow shady streets we find in historical village cores today. As progress will have it, cars have since dominated the urban and rural landscape, roads have widened and trees have had to make way for parking spaces.

With the Sculpture I wanted to draw attention to animal welfare and our environment in a positive way – showing a horse at play in a green space- not at work nor in pain – but in harmony with nature.

The Artwork is a happy horse rolling, playing on its back, its legs reaching up towards the dappled light protected under the magnificent tree canopies – curled up almost resembling an embryo in a womb.

The Horse – just like humans, be it the elderly on foot or youngsters on bicycles – thrive in spaces like this here in Floriana.

In the midst of progress we must remember it says alot about a country how we care for animals and how we nurture a safe green environment and future for our children and elderly.

I am certain we can do this and make Malta Green: take inspiration from these gardens in Floriana and our fellow European bicycle friendly green cities; see the potential of Valley road in Birkirkara, walk along the green dunes we designed at the Three cities Waterfront and develop new ways of connecting our little island with with healthy green spaces – good for animals and humans alike!

I want to thank everyone who helped realise my dream:

the Public Works Department,

the Floriana Local Council,

the Bronze foundry Ursino in Sicily,

the Aguis Stoneworks team here in Malta,

Hydrolectric lighting and Perit William Lewis,

my fiancé Keely for her support and equine expertise

and her beautiful mare Tessa for modelling and countless backrolls!

Thank you!”

A poem, specially crafted for the artwork, which can be read on the sculpture’s plaque, encapsulates the essence of the Artist’s message.

For more information about the ‘Embryonic Horse’, the Artist and more of his public artworks, exhibitions and upcoming events, please visit ART STUDIO – RUNE BO JAKOBSEN, Rockerfeller Court, 1 Tower Road, Bkara or online at www.runejako.com.

Tags art in public spaces, bronze, embryonic horse, floriana, horse, public artwork, public sculpture, rune bo jakobsen

Public Sculpture

‘Olive Twist’

Post author By Rune
Post date February 6, 2020

Public Art Sculpture in Zejtun, Malta

Inauguration speech, 4th Oct 2021:

‘My name is Rune Bo Jakobsen. I am an Artist and an Architect. Through my Paintings and Sculptures I seek to give emotional and sensory experiences; over the years touching on key topics such as growth, life, childhood, fertility, animal welfare, urban spaces and the environment. Previous Public sculptures in Malta include the Travelling concrete ‘Popcorn’ and the Child Memorial Paper Boat coined ’Hope’ at the Valletta Waterfront.

The ‘Olive Twist’ sculpture here in Front of us is inspired by the organic growth and twisting movement of the ancient Olive trees deeply rooted in the culture of Żejtun. The Structural ‘DNA’ of the sculpture is reminiscent of the traditional Maltese silver filigree jewellery. It is a network of intertwining reflective stainless steel pipes twisting and branching outwards.

At night the ‘Olive Twist’ Sculpture is like a beacon; light reflects off the silvery structure from within the central space of the trunk base – like a flickering fire creating a play of light and silhouette as one circles around it. In the different seasons one may experience a change in colour of light, like now in Autumn for Pink October breast Cancer awareness month.

Seen from above, this spinning movement of the ‘Olive Twist’ Sculpture Landscaping is also influenced by the history and spirit of the place:

Between the roundabout and the Church there used to be an old windmill; now long gone and only exists as a memory of people in Zejtun and in the drawing Archives of Malta.

When we cast the podium on which the ‘Olive Twist’ is rooted, we found it actually resembles a giant grinding-stone of a windmill or an old olive press. Also the landscaping design with the seed-like imprinted stepping stones spiral outwards into the soil are like roots or like windmill wings spinning.

The stepping stones were made and imprinted with the help of the Zejtun community in Workshops with Zejtun Primary B and the Zejtun Corinthians Football Club nursery. A great big thank you to all involved for making these workshops possible; teachers, parents, staff, Zejtun council members, Malta UNESCO Youth Association, …and thanks to the Children who now have an everlasting imprint set in stone.

The ‘Olive Twist’ is in a way a Time Capsule containing memories, elements and artefacts -created in 2021 by not one person alone; but by a community of people from all over Malta and beyond, working together combining their efforts and skills into one public space.

After months of planning with Zejtun Local Council and relevant entities; we developed and tested a multitude of models – both physical as well as detailed digital 3d models and drawings used throughout the fabrication process. The manufacturing of the complex sculpture was done together with the skilled welders and steel benders at Jacap Ltd. in Mosta.

On site surveying was done by Brandon Calleja. The reinforced concrete civil works and smooth hand crafted in situ finishes of the podium and curved kerbs were done by Decorative Concrete Ltd. Steve Ellis and his team also helped with the casting of the stepping stones.

For a thunderstorm like this weekend the Olive Twist is also safe. The Lightning Protection earthing system includes two 3.6m earth-rods installed by MCE. Testing and engineering of earthing by Ing Joseph Azzopardi of Galea Curmi in Gozo. The LED Lighting from Hydrolectric and the electric installation by Nexus.

The Transport and lifting of the 4x3x3m Sculpture in one piece from Mosta to Zejtun was done successfully by Express Trailers.

In the Landscaping part of the project the ‘Maltese Everlasting’ shrubs were supplied by ELC and planted by the Local Council Gardeners – just before the rain this weekend! These silver leafed shrubs are an endemic species to the Maltese Islands. The actual specimens are propagated from Dwejra, with care once established they require little water and we trust they will flourish and flower for years to come.

‘ Olive Twist’ would not have been possible without the entire Zejtun Local Council Team, Anton Falzon, Sean Chircop and Major, Doris Abela for the continuous support, coordination and collaboration. Also thanks to Reece Delia of the Malta UNESCO Youth Association (MUYA) for bringing us all together and writing the winning proposal. Finally, a Special Thanks to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Projects and the Public Works Department for the Funding and Support making ‘Olive Twist’ a new Landmark for Zejtun. ‘

……

‘Olive Twist’ was a winning proposal for the Ministry of Infrastructure competition for ‘Art in Public spaces’.

‘Olive Twist’ was originally envisaged to be the centre and catalyst for surrounding trees to be planted in the future embellishment of the Carlo Diacono Square within the Urban Conservation Area (UCA) of Żejtun. The square is currently a traffic junction paved with tarmac. All entities except SCH were in favour of the project; thus a new location was sought for the sculpture.

Original proposed location for the Olive Twist Sculpture within UCA area of Zejtun.

Public Sculpture

Popcorn Sculptures & HUG ME Soft Furniture Now Exhibiting at Malta Design Week

Post author By Rune
Post date May 17, 2014

Popcorn Now Exhibiting at Fort St Elmo! -Malta Design Week- 17-24 MAY 10am-10pm

http://maltadesignweek.com/project/popcorn-by-rune-bo-jakobsen/

Public Sculpture

Popcorn sculpture now at Dock 1

Post author By Rune
Post date April 4, 2014

Public Sculpture

‘Popcorn’ shortfilm published on Youtube

Post author By Rune
Post date March 16, 2014

Now on youtube:

The creative process and public engagement of the travelling concrete ‘Popcorn’ sculpture

Published on Mar 16, 2014

‘Popcorn Travelling Artwork’ Short-film by Rune Bo Jakobsen accompanied by Monica Xiao’s ‘Piano Droplets’: ‘The First Dance’ and ‘Rain Season’

The concept behind the ‘Popcorn’ travelling sculpture is that of expansion and fertility. The popcorn analogy where a tiny seed bursts into a unique sculptural volume can be seen as an expression of life and the growth of the embryo. On one hand, the concept deals with the growth of the individual, yet also the growth of the industrial and physical environment.

The idea was to create an expanding volume using an experimental concrete casting technique where the concrete takes the shape of a textile form. The shape and texture of the sculpture is dictated by the forces and pressures between the flexible skin and the liquid concrete. Expressive tension lines and folds become fossilized in the concrete as if the expansion were frozen in time.
Whilst using industrial materials, the convex shapes are reminiscent of the Maltese Neolithic goddess of fertility. Some casts also contained concave voids, where the sculpture also becomes an introvert space – an opened seed or a womb.

The intention of the project was not only to develop the casting technique; but to bring art out of the museum and directly into the street where the public can touch and perhaps embrace the artwork.

It is a tactile sensory experience: a ‘hug-able’ one tonne concrete popcorn.

The creative process and public engagement has been captured and portrayed in a short-film showing the ‘Popcorn’ travelling to a number of outdoor public locations and events throughout Malta.
Starting in September in the streets of Valletta for the Science in the City; then in October to the gardens of Upper Barrakka for Notte Bianca and in November by the Grand harbour at the Valletta Waterfront. Other hosting locations include Sliema Promenade, Tigné Point, Mater dei Hospital and Zejtun prior to returning to Valletta at the Malta Design Week in May 2014.

During Malta Design Week 2014 the ‘Popcorn’ sculpture along with the experimental test-casts and short-film will be exhibited at Fort St. Elmo, Valletta.