Artist digs in to reveal roots of new park site

Rob Mulholland, artist in residence at Cuningar Loop, has created the work ahead of a £5million plan to turn the area beside the Clyde into the Forestry Commission's newest woodland park.

The artwork replicates an authentic archaeological dig, featuring a tent, with excavation areas showcasing unearthed artefacts from the demolition work, props and motion-activated sound boxes.

Colin Peacock, Forestry Commission Scotland project manager for the Cuningar Loop park plan, said: "For more than 200 years, this land has been used for industry.

"The installation is a great opportunity for local community groups to see the site before it is changed into a green retreat."

The 37-acre site, equivalent to 15 football pitches, will be transformed into a river- side park, with a new pedestrian bridge linking Dalmarnock to the Athletes' Village.

The Forestry Commission Scotland, Clyde Gateway and South Lanarkshire Council project is expected to attract over 100,000 visitors a year.

Mr Mulholland said: "I have been amazed at how nature has reclaimed what has been used as a landfill site from the Sixties onwards, mostly rubble from the Gorbals clearances just a few miles from Cuningar Loop.

"The site is strewn with bricks, stone, old glass bottles and bits of household bric a brac.

"From chatting with local people, the site has been like this for as long as they can remember and I feel the way the site is now should be documented.

"In a way, the forgotten rubble is the last vestige of the communities that were moved during the slum clearances.

"It is an important part of local social history and offers an opportunity to reflect on the past before it is transformed into the new park.

"Local youth groups have been down to the site volunteering and helping with the preparations.

"It should create an interesting and slightly surreal installation that will blur the lines between being art and a real archaeological dig."

vivienne.nicoll@ eveningtimes.co.uk