Will the broken artwork’s lights ever come back on?

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The lights went out at Mute Meadow, photographed in 2013, more than a decade ago

Getty Images a bridge is illuminated behind a light sculpture made up of steel columns entitled on the banks of a river. a number of buildings can be seen in the background — The lights went out at Mute Meadow, photographed in 2013, more than a decade ago

It was to be the near £1m piece of public art symbolising Londonderry’s transition from a city of conflict to a capital of culture.

Mute Meadow, a series of illuminated steel columns on the banks of the Foyle, was unveiled in 2011.

But since the lights went out more than a decade ago, its pillars have been left to gather rust.

Now, its artists are calling for it to be repaired, restored and reinstated “for the people of the city”.

Vong Phaophanit, a Turner prize nominee and his co-creator, Claire Oboussier told BBC News NI it is “regrettable that no action has been taken” in the years since the lights went out.

Derry City and Strabane District Council, which manages the artwork, said design work for the repair has been completed.

Work is now underway to identify the required budget, the council added.

That cost has not been made public.

The Executive Office, owners of the Ebrington site on which it stands, “will consider a contribution” when it is made aware of the cost.

What is Mute Meadow?

Sitting at the Ebrington end of the city’s Peace Bridge, Mute Meadow consists of 40 angled steel columns.

The intention was that the steel pillars would be illuminated by LED projectors and lit up in the colours of the stain glass windows of the city’s Guildhall.

It was designed to create a “vast field of light” across the River Foyle.

Costing £800,000, and funded by Stormont, then Arts Minister Gregory Campbell said it would “place arts and culture at the centre of the city’s regeneration”.

Maurice Devenney, Derry’s then mayor, said then that it “reflects positively how the city is moving forward” as it prepared for its year as UK City of Culture.

It was at the time, the largest piece of public art on the island of Ireland.

People could easily think the artwork is a construction site, a local councillor says

an array of steel pillars stand upright in an area of grass. a railway line is in the foreground — People could easily think the artwork is a construction site, a local councillor says

But right from the off it was dogged by problems.

Within months of being switched on, the lights went out due to issues associated with the fabrication of the work.

It was fixed temporarily but by 2014, the lights had gone again.

Mute Meadow has by and large, remained in the dark ever since.

‘Unfinished building site’

It is now more like “an unfinished building site” than a million pound artwork, SDLP councillor Rory Farrell told BBC News NI.

“People don’t know what it’s meant to be, it is an eyesore,” he said.

At a time when budgets are tight and a number of local groups have lost out on core funding, Farrell said he understands the repair work may not be everyone’s priority.

“But I for one want to see this operational, it would add to out cultural offering and transform the landscape along the river,” he said.

What do people think of Mute meadow?

Mark Froydenlund says ideally the artwork, close to the Peace bridge, would work as intended

a man stands on a bridge wearing a blue jacket. a river is behind him, and a number of buildings can be seen in the background — Mark Froydenlund says ideally the artwork, close to the Peace bridge, would work as intended

The hundreds of people to cross the city’s Peace bridge daily pass just yards from Mute Meadows’ metal pillars.

Mark Froydenlund told BBC Radio Foyle he knows the nearby steel pillars are “some kind of sculpture”.

The cost seems “expensive” given it doesn’t work, he said, adding “they should get it working”.

Deirdre Watson and Maurice Hudson had no idea the artwork on the banks of the Foyle existed

a man and woman stand side by side on a bridge, a river is behind them, and a number of buildings can be seen in the background — Deirdre Watson and Maurice Hudson had no idea the artwork on the banks of the Foyle existed

Maurice Hudson and Deirdre Watson from Belfast are staying in a hotel just a few hundred yards from Mute Meadow.

Neither “had a clue” the artwork existed or what the steel columns are for.

Maurice said there are other priorities “like the state of our national health service.” Deirdre agreed, adding money could be spent “a better way, for things like housing”.

But Maurice added, when a lot of money has already been spent, the lights should be on.

“With the people of Derry/Londonderry not having to pay for the electric,” Deirdre added.

Billy Quigley didn’t know the beams were a piece of art

a man stands on a bridge wearing a blue jacket and pink jumper. he has a grey hat on his head. a river is behind him, and a number of buildings can be seen in the background — Billy Quigley didn’t know the beams were a piece of art

Billy Quigley tells the BBC he has “no idea” the steel beams at the end of the Peace bridge were intended to be a work of art.

“That is wasted money,” he said, adding the money spent thus far could “have gone to better causes”.

‘Enduring contribution to the cityscape’

In a statement, Phaophanit and Oboussier said there seemed to have been a lack of care around their artwork.

The artists hope that “proactive action” is taken to repair the piece and reinstate it for the city.

Vong Phaophanit and his co-creator Claire Oboussier says the Derry art was among their most “meaningful”

Getty Images a man dressed all in black, and with short black hair, stands in front of a wall of wooden poles — Vong Phaophanit and his co-creator Claire Oboussier says the Derry art was among their most “meaningful”

Mute Meadow, the artists said, was “one of our most challenging and meaningful pieces of work to realise”.

“Our hope and intention was that it would make an enduring contribution to the Derry cityscape – a positive and peaceful space where people could gather, somewhere where Derry citizens could continue to develop a sense of collective belonging for years to come.”

The artists said they remain committed to help in any way they can.

What next for Mute Meadow?

The council said a concept design has been completed to restore the artwork’s lighting.

“Council is currently working to identify adequate budget to deliver the works,” a spokeswoman said.

The cost of those works is due to be presented to councillors in the coming months.

“Council will also continue to work with The Executive Office to find a lasting solution for the long-term future of the artwork.”

The Executive Office (TEO) said it is also supportive of the work needed to repair it.

“We understand a concept design exists for relighting the artwork and a cost estimate has been compiled. On receipt of costs from council we will consider a contribution,” a TEO spokesperson said.

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