Edinburgh, West Mains Road, King's Buildings, Michael Swann Building
Faculty Building (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Edinburgh, West Mains Road, King's Buildings, Michael Swann Building
Classification Faculty Building (Period Unassigned)
Alternative Name(s) University Of Edinburgh; Institute Of Cell & Molecular Biology; Icmb; Mayfield Road
Canmore ID 181053
Site Number NT27SE 526.11
NGR NT 2687 7043
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/181053
- Council Edinburgh, City Of
- Parish Edinburgh (Edinburgh, City Of)
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District City Of Edinburgh
- Former County Midlothian
NT27SE 526.11 2687 7043
ARCHITECT: Thomas Henney Architects 1996.
(Undated) information in NMRS.
Project (1997)
The Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (http://www.pmsa.org.uk/) set up a National Recording Project in 1997 with the aim of making a survey of public monuments and sculpture in Britain ranging from medieval monuments to the most contemporary works. Information from the Edinburgh project was added to the RCAHMS database in October 2010 and again in 2012.
The PMSA (Public Monuments and Sculpture Association) Edinburgh Sculpture Project has been supported by Eastern Photocolour, Edinburgh College of Art, the Edinburgh World Heritage Trust, Historic Scotland, the Hope Scott Trust, The Old Edinburgh Club, the Pilgrim Trust, the RCAHMS, and the Scottish Archive Network.
Field Visit (1 February 2000)
Two abstract twice life size figures, each comprising a collage of human, mechanical and geometric elements, forming two independent standing figures, one of which (Egeria) stands on its head.
The two figures represent 'the scattered pieces of the jigsaw of understanding, made coherent only by the power of imagination' (1), particularly in the fields of science and human biology, the subject of study within the Michael Swann Building.
The sculptures were commissioned by the University of Edinburgh to coincide with the opening of the Michael Swann Building, which houses the Institute of Cell and Molecular Biology / Division of Biological Sciences. Funding support was obtained from the Scottish Arts Council National Lottery Fund and by 'work-in-kind' by Paolozzi.
Inscriptions : Commemorative plaque fixed to wall, right hand side of entrance doors when facing building (brushed aluminium plate, black etched lettering with partially coloured crest and logo):
PARTHENOPE AND EGERIA
THESE TWO BRONZE SCULPTURES WERE MADE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS IN LONDON, THE MAQUETTES IN MY STUDIO AND THE / FINAL CASTS AT THE ARCH BRONZE FOUNDRY IN PUTNEY. THEY ARE ENTITLED PARTHENOPE (THE STANDING FIGURE) AND / EGERIA (THE SMALLER), TWO PLANETS FROM AN ILLUSTRATION IN A BOOK ON NEWTON, THE VERY APOTHEOSIS OF GENIUS. / THIS SIMPLE SCHOOL BOOK ILLUSTRATES THE LONG AND WONDERFUL STRUGGLE OF MEN TO ACHIEVE SPECTACULAR DISCOVERIES / IN THE SCIENCES. / EDUARDO PAOLOZZI / MARCH 1997 /
THESE FIGURES WERE COMMISSIONED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE SCOTTISH ARTS COUNCIL / NATIONAL LOTTERY FUND AND WERE UNVEILED ON 12 MARCH 1997 BY SIR STEWART SUTHERLAND, / PRINCIPAL OF THE UNIVERSITY
Below text, on left hand side; the University of Edinburgh arms; on right hand side the Scottish Arts Council National Lottery Fund logo.
Signatures : On upper surface of each base (raised letters):
E. PAOLOZZI 1997
Design period : 1995 - 1997
Year of unveiling : 1997
Unveiling details : Unveiled 12 March 1997
Information from Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA Work Ref : EDIN0004)
