Scottish Airs (Clause 28) (Maurice Agis)

Scottish Airs
Credit: Richard East
Glasgow Airs
Credit: Richard East
Garden Festival 'zone'

Recreation and Sport

Sponsor, if appropriate

1988 Glasgow Garden Festival Visual Arts Programme

Type of object

Sculpture or other artwork

Current situation

Unknown

Notes

Listed as 'Scottish Airs' in Garden Festival publications, but 'Clause 28' or 'Clause 29' in others.

Maurice Agis, creator of this huge pvc and nylon inflatable sculpture, had a career marred by tragedy, initially with the injury of five people when his installation 'Colourspace' was blown into the air at Travemünde, Germany. Sadly, his legacy is chiefly associated today with the 2006 disaster at Riverside Park in Chester-le-Street, when another of his works (damaged by members of the public at its previous installation site) came free from its moorings and was lifted by winds into the air, resulting in two deaths and the injury of thirteen others (source). Agis was subsequently found guilty under Health and Safety legislation.

However, these were not the only accidents involving his art installations. Following the Chester-le-Street incident, it was it was made public that 'Scottish Airs'/'Clause 28' had been blown out of the Canting Basin at the 1988 Glasgow Garden Festival whilst Agis himself and Rex Lyons (a marine contractor assisting on the project), attempting to restrain the sculpture, were both lifted 30 feet into the air. Agis fell to the ground, suffering back injuries, whilst Lyons dropped into the Clyde, apparently emerging unhurt. The artwork 'was last seen floating off down Govan Road'. Maurice Agis died in 2009.

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