MUSSELBURGH ARCHER
life-sized bronze statue and sculpture trail
Collaboration with artist Maja Quille
Musselburgh, East Lothian (2019)
Recipient of the Design Award by the Musselburgh Conservation Society in 2021
Commissioned by East Lothian Council
Collaboration with artist Maja Quille
Musselburgh, East Lothian (2019)
Recipient of the Design Award by the Musselburgh Conservation Society in 2021
Commissioned by East Lothian Council
The artwork comprises a life-size bronze cast of an archer on the Esk riverbank by the Roman Bridge and 15 arrows at different locations around Musselburgh. Inspired by local history, the archer and arrows represent three important aspects of Musselburgh heritage - the Roman invasion in AD 80, the battle of Pinkie Cleugh in 1547 and the Musselburgh Silver Arrow, which dates back to 1603 and is claimed to be the oldest sporting trophy in the world. The bronze figure has a universal and timeless aesthetic, representing layers of Musselburgh history.
The arrows are engraved with the community’s wishes for the future of Musselburgh, which were gathered by conducting community workshops. Installed in a variety of ways and including one oversized arrow and one on a plaque, they form a trail linking the heritage of Musselburgh to the modern day as well as providing an interactive element of activity for both locals and visitors. The placement of the arrows leads people to sites which are important to the town in terms of history, culture, nature and community, allowing participants to experience Musselburgh in a new adventurous way, highlighting its assets and reasserting the town’s identity.
To share your experience of the artwork and see other people's photos of it join our facebook group: Musselburgh Archer
The arrows are engraved with the community’s wishes for the future of Musselburgh, which were gathered by conducting community workshops. Installed in a variety of ways and including one oversized arrow and one on a plaque, they form a trail linking the heritage of Musselburgh to the modern day as well as providing an interactive element of activity for both locals and visitors. The placement of the arrows leads people to sites which are important to the town in terms of history, culture, nature and community, allowing participants to experience Musselburgh in a new adventurous way, highlighting its assets and reasserting the town’s identity.
To share your experience of the artwork and see other people's photos of it join our facebook group: Musselburgh Archer