GUEST EVENING 'Lighting the Kelpies', Reg Gove of Lightfolio.

Reg Gove studied at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design in Dundee doing a Degree in Interior Design but after attending an inspirational lecture decided to change direction and specialise in lighting.

Lighting the Kelpies was the biggest project Reg has ever worked on. The project took eight years to conceive and build by the Sculptor Andy Scott. The initial sketches were started in 2006 and two actual horses were used as models. The original test models were three metres high but had to be scaled up to thirty metres for the final sculptures. Each of the Kelpies weighs over 300 tonnes.

Computers were used to test whether the concepts would work from an engineering and lighting perspective.  There were many challenges regarding the engineering of the structures which were constructed of a tubular steel frame with an outer cover of 900 different plates made of flat mill finished steel which were screwed down and deformed to shape.

The lighting was also a challenge as they knew they could light the Structure but were not sure they could light from the inside. The computer models confirmed this would work.  They also wanted to light the whole area around the Kelpies with flood lights that looked like light coming from pools of water on the ground.  The flood lights had to be put into pits so that visitors would not fall or trip over them.  The glass covering the pits had to be a special glass that used clear glass grit to provide enough strength to walk on - unfortunately the midges somehow manage to find their way under the glass!  Colour is used to great effect and can be changed to create different narratives according to seasons, times of day and events.  Mainly blues and reds are used to represent molten steel, a nod to the working horses that were used in the steel Industry of the area. Only seven kilowatts is needed to light both the inside and outside of the Kelpies. The cost was £5 million for both sculptures.

'The artistic intent of the Kelpies is built around a contemporary sculptural monument. Water-borne, towering gateways into The Helix, the Forth & Clyde canal and Scotland, translating the legacy of the area into proud equine guardians.'  (-Andy Scott, Sculptor)

On the day after our talk The Kelpies were given the prestigious award for best Civil Engineering Project by the Saltire Society.

The vote of thanks given by Alan Maclaughlan.                          

Report by Pearl Clark