HABITAT REGULATIONS ASSESSMENT OF THE ‘BIG ART PROJECT’ IN CARDIGAN
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A scientific report has found that there would be no adverse impact on River Teifi’s SAC designated fish species if artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer’s ‘Turbulence’for The Big Art Project goes ahead. Released today by The Big Art Project in Cardigan, the full report is available here:
The report by APEM Aquatic Scientists was commissioned by independent public art consultancy Safle and The Big Art Trust - a charitable trust to create and promote public art with local communities - because the proposed site for Turbulence in the River Teifi is close to two sites of scientific interest which are protected under European law.
The report examined the potential impact of Turbulence - in particular the emission of light and sound - on Atlantic salmon, sea trout, and river and sea lamprey and their migratory habits. The impact of underwater cabling and the actual structure of the artwork were also assessed.
‘Turbulence‘ is a cluster of 127 interactive buoys which will float in the River Teifi alongside the Strand in Cardigan. Supported by a sunken hull attached to two moorings to allow the structure to move with the tide, the buoys will contain LED light sources and a loudspeaker. Along the quayside, microphones will record the voices of passers-by, store them within the buoys and set off the lights. When the river becomes periodically turbulent - the stored sounds will be released and will be heard as a stream of voices on the quay and shore.
The key findings of the APEM Aquatic Scientists’ report are:
- Light
- Light measurements determined that penetration into the water column of the light emitted by the buoys is likely to be restricted to within two metres of the structure. While this could lead to fish avoiding this localised area at night, the report found that as Turbulence will be sited on the inside bend of the river, it is unlikely that migration would be affected as the migrating fish would be able to migrate through the river in the middle and outer bend sections, which are likely to be preferred due to the faster water currents.
- Sound
o Atlantic salmon and sea trout migration will not be adversely affected by sound from the six proposed loudspeakers as they are ‘functionally deaf’ at the bandwidths at which the sound will be emitted and only a small proportion of the sound from the speakers would be transmitted into the water column. The report found that some sound could be transmitted into the water via the mounting pole for the speakers but that it would be unlikely to prevent fish from successfully migrating past the site.
o Lamprey have poor hearing and are unlikely to detect sound projected from the speakers or be disturbed.
- The buoy mooring structure
- While the sunken hull would reduce light underneath it, this would be similar to any other moored vessel and was not considered to pose any impact. In fact the structure could have a beneficial effect for fish, by giving them shelter and cover during the day. Lamprey, in particular, like shaded areas during daylight.
The report has been submitted to Ceredigion County Council as well as the Environment Agency and the Countryside Council for Wales, as part of the planning approval process for the permanent installation of Turbulence in the Teifi. All three bodies have been consulted throughout the study period and have accepted the findings of the report.
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer’s Turbulence is one of several proposed public art projects around the country which form Channel 4’s Big Art Project, an ambitious public art commissioning project. The artist says Turbulence “is intended as a reflection on Welsh oral tradition, poetry and song.”
The Big Art Project is supported by independent charity The Art Fund and Arts Council England. A four-part series will be aired on Channel 4 this spring.
10 users commented in " Environmental report gives Cardigan’s Turbulence the green light "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackHurray!! We can now see the light at the end of the tunnel (or at the end of the river! After all the latest doom and glum in the town, economy etc we will have at last something to bring tourism, talk, a buzz and boost to the local economy. Well done.
Jane Roche
What a complete load of balls . You’re talking just like they will, “crap”.
This 60ft monster piece of plastic and algae will really bring in the punters!
Just like Parc Aberporth will be bringing in 300 hundred jobs!
Get a life.
I can’t wait to start my urban terrorist duties.
Thanks a bunch Cerdigion, you know a nice bit of cloth on an emporer when yo see it!
Fantastic news. Very rare that the ‘we dont like change’ mob don’t get their way these days. Really happy to hear its got the go ahead.
Urban Terrorist duties eh ?
Hope we can count on you to be locking yourself on to a digger when they start the Bath House development then.
Or are you happy to leave large supermarket developments alone and focus your efforts on sabotaging modern art ?
Just what IS the point of this? There is no way this ‘thing’ will put Cardigan ‘on the map’ and those who think this will make a difference are seriously deluded! Cardigan is Cardigan, a unique little town where change is often frowned upon and to be honest as an incomer, I like it as it is!
The investigation was commissioned by Safle and the Big Art Trust, both bodies having a vested interest in the project proceeding. In other words, the report cannot be seen as being independent and unbiased because those who commissioned it are not and it is therefore meaningless. This is just typical of the way that the whole project has been handled so far by the art lobby, as they saw nothing wrong with having councillors vote on it at the planning meeting who were also on the steering committee for the project. One can only hope that the Ombudsman will return a verdict that the local politicos have acted improperly and that the planning permission will be overturned as it should be.
Of course, there’s no chance that an environmental report would dissuade the nay-sayers. But it’s the debate that’s interesting: the participative and argumentative taking of sides. This is public art even before it’s been made!
I know which side I am on, but people are talking about Cardigan and by any accounting surely that’s good? It would be great if the people of Cardigan are as confident of their culture and community as the people of Mexico City, Venice, Lincoln, Leicester, Northampton, Derby and Nottingham and all the other places where Lozano-Hemmer’s work has been invited and enjoyed.
I’m pleased to discover from the report that Cardigan is surrounded by wildlife and beauty, and I’m a birdwatcher as well as an art admirer. Another reason to visit.
Many years ago, two artists, Christo and Jean Claude, surrounded eleven islands in Miami with wide floating pink fabric frames for two weeks. There was a bru-ha-ha; politicians, planners, lawyers, scientists, residents, art critics, volunteer participants, conservationists, engineers, and the sewing machinists of the six million square feet of polypropylene: all had something to say, and the project went ahead.
The result was enormous kudos, economic benefit, a beautiful and poetic outcome, and a degree of public participation that merited the title of “public” art.
This discussion about “Turbulence” reminds me of that, in a quieter way, as do all the commissions. I think it can only be good for Cardigan.
I hope this doesn’t become a “Marmite” love-it-hate-it debate.
I’d be pleased to arrive at a welcoming B&B in Cardigan to see and share this art and your landscapes and wildlife. I’m not sure why any resentment is warranted?
What a shame that somany people are against this. No matter what is said and done they will always protest. They are incredibly ungreatful and the real travisty of this project is that there were so many other places that would have loved to have worked with such a visionary artist.
These NIMBYs really need to grow up and stop being so selfish and show some gratitude. But it will never happen because they believe they are right. They will read this and think I’m talking rubbish. Public art is so important, it has the power to change people and enrich them. It is vital that projects like this prevail over the narrow mindedness of those who don’t understand.
I really hope that the project goes ahead. I for one will be visiting all the way from York.
I am so glad the big art is going ahead.
I cant believe I live in a place so full of rude small minded individuals.
This artist is world renouned and we are incredibly lucky to have him working in our town. The ‘urban terrorist’ is obviously so small minded he cannot see what benifit this can have on the town.I hope you will also be protesting and damaging the castle if you are that adverse to change.
Its time to embrace the big art, be glad we were lucky enough to be picked and enjoy all the good things that come with it and stop focusing on small minded bigots.
Saw this on tv the other night, its amazing. Glad that you are getting it, i for 1 would love to come down from Scotland and see it.
Couldnt believe there was so many people against it.. considering all the other town and places on “big art” were very optimistic and open to just about anything. You have a load of backward folk there
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