|
Looking Right was made as a landmark for a traffic roundabout in Coatbridge,
Scotland. Its shape was based on the Tower of Flames, part of the Coatbridge
coat of arms. The circle of lights forms an imposing tower and is a clear
reference to the Tower of Flames, the concrete foundation that holds the
poles comprises the towers' battlements or parapet. The circle of lights
also represents a group of present-day sentinels, watching over the fortunes
of the drivers. Street lights generally have a protective function but here,
removed from their normal use, this function is reinforced.
In addition to its sculptural side, the work also has a textual side:
'Looking Right'. In the UK, 'Look Right' is a frequent instruction to
pedestrians when navigating junctions and crossings. Slightly adapted and
partially removed from its normal context, this saying can communicate the
word pair's every possible connotation. 'Looking' and 'Right' are, however,
shown in mirror image which suggests that there is no single way of 'looking
right'
|
