Public Monument and Sculpture Association National Recording Project

Borderline Photograph

Region ID

AH

Work ID

499

Manual Reference

BLGW008

Type

Sculpture

Title

Borderline

Sculptor

Kennedy, Robert

Date of design

1991-92

Year of unveiling

1992

Unveiling details

1992

Road

A4046

Precise Location

On land surrounding Festival Park Factory Shopping Village

A to Z Ref

OS Ref

SO165076

Postcode

NP23 8FP

Work is

Extant

Listing Status

Not listed

Duty of Care

Festival Park

Commissioned by

Garden Festival Wales

Notes

Six separate small upright works set on stone bases; two boxing gloves, two dolls, cherub and a skull. Information from Festival Park: 'The works were carved away from site during 1991. They are made to operate as conventional garden ornamentation, within a constructed garden. The boxing gloves are there to depict some of their associated aspects, such as maleness and competition. The dolls depict something of how an image is idealised for mass consumption, becoming a distortion of the human figure. Both the gloves and the dolls can be seen as gendering devices through role play. The cherub and skull are life and death charms. Each of these suggests ways in which we adopt roles in society. What we really are is never as clear cut as what these images suggest.'

Borderline was supported by Garden Festival Wales and Chapter Arts Centre. 'The sculptor, Robert Kennedy, felt that the Garden Festival was a huge, themed social event in itself. He wanted to create a themed garden within it, something social, commenting to some extent on the diversity of culture within real society.'

A number of sculptures were commissioned for the Garden Festival of Wales in 1991/2 and some works remain on site.

circa

raw year

1992

Condition

Good

At risk

No known risk

Inscriptions

Signatures

Elements

Element Details

Part of work

Material

Dimensions

Borderline (six pieces)

Portland stone

Each piece approx. 60cm high

Assessment of Condition

Surface Character

Detail

Comment

Other

Slight weathering of stone on all six works, more noticeable on face of cherub. Overall in good condition

Structural Condition

Structural Condition

Comment

Other

No damage

Vandalism

Vandalism

Comment

None