Just as the salmon undergoes its migratory journey, the River Tyne has come a long way too.
Those who unwittingly associate the Tyne with heavy industry and shipbuilding will be pleased to learn that it has cleaned up its act. In fact, the River Tyne is now one of the best salmon rivers in the country.
To raise public awareness of the transition, and to highlight a new recreational route following the length of the river to the North Sea, the ‘Tyne Salmon Trail’ was created.
The year-long travelling sculpture trail was commissioned by the Environment Agency, in partnership with Commissions North. As a result, xsite architecture created ten individual and interactive two-metre square cubes.
The Tyne Salmon Trail featured a family of interchangeable cubes that reflected the life cycle of the salmon on its year long journey from the river to the sea. The design and materials of each cube were inspired by this remarkable fish. For example one cube featured over 1,000 pivoting stainless steel discs representing the movement of the salmons’ scales. Another cube featured sheets of polycarbonate and coloured vinyl punctuated with holes to represent the salmons’ eggs.
Mapping the salmons’ journey, the cubes visited different locations along the river throughout 2008. They were positioned everywhere from rural riverbanks to the bustling quayside of NewcastleGateshead. Locations were carefully selected providing beautiful and dramatic backdrops, drawing attention to some of the most desirable places in North East England.
Starting off at the birthplace of the salmon, the first port of call was the hatchery at Kielder. The final destination was Tynemouth at the mouth of the River Tyne. Once here, the cubes made the return journey of 150 miles back to their starting point.
Stopping at each location for up to two months, every cube was designed to be interactive. A Bluetooth device allowed visitors to receive information and images about the salmon and the River Tyne via their mobile phones.
The project really captured people’s imagination. Thousands of people saw and interacted with the sculptures at locations along the River Tyne during their year-long journey. It also informed and educated people about the regeneration of the area and the lifecycle of this extraordinary fish.
Following the success of the project four of the cubes have now found a permanent home in the Art and Architecture programme at Kielder Forest and Water Park a nationally acclaimed collection of unique visual art and architecture. The cubes are site alongside the newly completed Lakeside Way.
