The See Monster, a decommissioned offshore North Sea oil rig transformed into an art installation, will now welcome the public on board.
From Saturday, members of the public will have the opportunity to visit See Monster, which is located at the Tropicana, a multi-use indoor and outdoor event space on the Weston-super-Mare seafront.
The piece is one of the largest public art installations in the country and aims to start conversations about reuse, renewables and the British weather.
The project was commissioned as part of Unboxed: Creativity in the UK, a festival running until November that shares ideas and possibilities for the future as envisioned by creatives from the worlds of science, technology, engineering and the arts, in physical and digital spaces.
The See Monster is 35 metres tall and features four publicly accessible levels. It's animated by a 10-metre-high waterfall and a multi-level slide offers an alternative way through the 6,000-piece kinetic installation.
Behind the shimmering scales of the structure is a garden containing grasses, plants and trees that thrive in a seaside microclimate. The garden also features kinetic wind sculptures, artist-designed experiments in sustainable energy generation, a seated amphitheatre and, at its base, a broadcast suite.
Creative studio Newsubstance led the transformation of the industrial structure into a public installation, along with designers, artists and scientists who added engaging interactive elements for the public.
“See Monster is an incredibly unique project, made possible through cross-sector collaboration and the ambitious nature of the Unboxed commission,” says Patrick O’Mahony, creative director and founder of Newsubstance.
“We are incredibly excited to be the first people in the world to reuse a structure in this way, with its potential to provide a blueprint for future global reuse projects.”
The Garden Lab features nine-metre-high trees, plants and grasses, and is cooled through the See Monster’s waterfall, which continually recirculates through the pools at its base. Powering its irrigation system is a combination of art and renewable energy. WindNest, designed by artist Trevor Lee, comprises two rotating airborne pods that generate clean energy through wind and solar technology.
Two kinetic sculptures by artist Ivan Black are set in mesmerising motion by the wind. Made from aluminium and designed to withstand the elements, the sculptures, representing the sun and moon, are designed to be in constant graceful yet chaotic movement.
“We are thrilled that the public can now board See Monster, after witnessing its transformation over the past few months,” says O’Mahony.
“We hope this once-in-a-lifetime experience that started as an experiment in education and creativity in Weston-super-Mare will go on to have a much greater and long-lasting legacy.”
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm
Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm
Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
English Premiership semi-finals
Saracens 57
Wasps 33
Exeter Chiefs 36
Newcastle Falcons 5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.3-litre%204cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E299hp%20at%205%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E420Nm%20at%202%2C750rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E12.4L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh157%2C395%20(XLS)%3B%20Dh199%2C395%20(Limited)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Emiratisation at work
Emiratisation was introduced in the UAE more than 10 years ago
It aims to boost the number of citizens in the workforce particularly in the private sector.
Growing the number of Emiratis in the workplace will help the UAE reduce dependence on overseas workers
The Cabinet in December last year, approved a national fund for Emirati jobseekers and guaranteed citizens working in the private sector a comparable pension
President Sheikh Khalifa has described Emiratisation as “a true measure for success”.
During the UAE’s 48th National Day, Sheikh Khalifa named education, entrepreneurship, Emiratisation and space travel among cornerstones of national development
More than 80 per cent of Emiratis work in the federal or local government as per 2017 statistics
The Emiratisation programme includes the creation of 20,000 new jobs for UAE citizens
UAE citizens will be given priority in managerial positions in the government sphere
The purpose is to raise the contribution of UAE nationals in the job market and create a diverse workforce of citizens
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
