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60ft container giant to be centre of extravaganza (From Daily Echo)
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60ft container giant 'Omni Ideal X' to be centre of extravaganza in Southampton
11:08am Tuesday 15th May 2012 in Southampton
By Lorelei Reddin, Entertainments Editor
Omni Ideal X
THIS is the 60ft metal giant made from huge shipping containers that will tower over Southampton Water as part of a dazzling summer extravaganza.
The massive structure will dominate the skyline at Mayflower Park next month as hundreds of people flock to the water’s edge for a spectacular show.
Aerial acrobats will cascade from the “arms” of the stunning figure in a display culminating in fizzing pyrotechnics and colourful visual surprises.
The so-called “Omni Ideal X”
features eight shipping containers carefully stacked together in a nod to Southampton’s world famous port heritage.
It is all part of the Waterlitz event in Southampton on June 16 – an Art at the Heart project.
It came about as a result of a cross-Channel collaboration between the Nuffield Theatre’s artistic director, Patrick Sandford, and producer Sharon Lawless with the director of Generik Vapeur in France, Pierre Berthelot.
And the vast figure, which organisers say symbolises dwindling natural resources and the part we can play in protecting the planet, will be heading to Winchester on July 6, where it will be the launch piece for the city’s annual Hat Fair.
The Southampton event follows on from outdoor events Barricade, Alive and Ablaze and Midsummer Dreams, but has moved from the usual location of Guildhall Square because of the piece’s size, as well as Mayflower Park’s more appropriate waterfront location.
Mr Sandford told the Daily Echo: “It’s a joy to work with another tremendous, inventive French company, Generik Vapeur, and on such an ambitious project.
“Containers are such a feature of Southampton’s working life that Omni Ideal X should feel completely at home here.”
The event starts at 8pm on Saturday, June 16, and comes to its glittering conclusion at about 10pm.
Additional reporting by Jon Reeve
Comments(23)
Pikey Pete
says...
11:27am Tue 15 May 12
I will now go and see this.
Usually the echo tells us afterwards....How many people never went etc....
So well done the Echo.
ToastyTea
says...
11:30am Tue 15 May 12
Big Mac wrote:haha funny cause it's true.
What a cheapskate idea. And as for symbolising dwindling natural resources and the part we can play in protecting the planet, yep, giant metal boxes that transport tonnes of junk from one part of the planet to another.
userds5050
says...
11:43am Tue 15 May 12
Pikey Pete wrote:I'm going. I can't container my excitement.
Hope you all agree...For once the Echo has told us BEFORE the event and not reported on it after.
I will now go and see this.
Usually the echo tells us afterwards....How many people never went etc....
So well done the Echo.
Raven 81
says...
11:50am Tue 15 May 12
Maybe it will look more attractive when its built.
bigfella777
says...
12:04pm Tue 15 May 12
Just another reader
says...
12:14pm Tue 15 May 12
Big Mac wrote:Like it or not containerisation actually reduces emissions. In the past several different ships would have called carrying specific cargo, whereas these days individual containers can be loaded with a variety of goods from different origins heading for the same destination.
What a cheapskate idea.
And as for symbolising dwindling natural resources and the part we can play in protecting the planet, yep, giant metal boxes that transport tonnes of junk from one part of the planet to another.
And you say it's a cheapskate idea. The council can't win. If they spend money people moan, if they get something for free it's cheapskate.
snapperdownunder
says...
12:37pm Tue 15 May 12
BillyTheKid
says...
12:45pm Tue 15 May 12
Is it supposed to be a tribute to Antony Gormely's "Angel Of The North", economy edition ?
Catholics might like the crucifix shape, but some may feel it has a gravestone look. Perhaps it could be kept as a memorial to the shipbuilding industry.
dango
says...
12:47pm Tue 15 May 12
BillyTheKid
says...
12:51pm Tue 15 May 12
pushamara
says...
12:55pm Tue 15 May 12
Shoong
says...
1:06pm Tue 15 May 12
Stillness
says...
1:31pm Tue 15 May 12
BillyTheKid wrote:It does.
Sorry to re-itterate your joke, Snapper, but you must have posted while I was trying to find more pictures of "The Thing". Anyway, many people in Southampton will not know about the Gormely work, so my comment might help them understand. I hope that doesn't sound patronising.......
pod
says...
1:34pm Tue 15 May 12
pushamara wrote:here, here
Some of you lot must be so boring. You moan about everything and anything. You moan there's nothing to do and when something gets put on you moan it's to cheap! If the council gave away 1million pound next week to anyway who wanted it you would moan that it should have been 5 million! If you don't want to get out and enjoy life, then stay behind your computer but some people like these sort of events!
Big Mac
says...
1:53pm Tue 15 May 12
Stillness
says...
2:00pm Tue 15 May 12
BillyTheKid wrote:It is not a crucifix. It is a cross. A crucifix is a cross with Christ on it. Close Billy, but no Bill Clinton. Oops, I meant no cigar.
The photograph is of what appears to be a pile of rusty containers. Not sure whether it's a bad photo or a bad idea.
Is it supposed to be a tribute to Antony Gormely's "Angel Of The North", economy edition ?
Catholics might like the crucifix shape, but some may feel it has a gravestone look. Perhaps it could be kept as a memorial to the shipbuilding industry.
Shoong
says...
2:41pm Tue 15 May 12
Stillness wrote:Side un-splittingly not hilarious.
BillyTheKid wrote:It is not a crucifix. It is a cross. A crucifix is a cross with Christ on it. Close Billy, but no Bill Clinton. Oops, I meant no cigar.
The photograph is of what appears to be a pile of rusty containers. Not sure whether it's a bad photo or a bad idea.
Is it supposed to be a tribute to Antony Gormely's "Angel Of The North", economy edition ?
Catholics might like the crucifix shape, but some may feel it has a gravestone look. Perhaps it could be kept as a memorial to the shipbuilding industry.
BillyTheKid
says...
2:54pm Tue 15 May 12
BillyTheKid wrote:Just in case anyone does find the comment patronising, the idea was to provide a little more information re the "Angel" joke, so that people who don't know anything about modern art (and why should they ?) can check up on Gormely.
Sorry to re-itterate your joke, Snapper, but you must have posted while I was trying to find more pictures of "The Thing". Anyway, many people in Southampton will not know about the Gormely work, so my comment might help them understand. I hope that doesn't sound patronising.......
Interestingly, years ago non-specialist people knew quite a bit about Dali, Pollock, Warhol, etc., primarily because their work was different, entertaining, accessible, and given a lot of publicity.
The likes of Hirst and Emin, with their "Fish 'n' Formaldehyde" and "My F***ing Dirty Washing" turned a lot of people off modern art, which is a shame as Andy Goldsmith and Richard Long deserve to be more well-known.
localnews
says...
3:06pm Tue 15 May 12
pushamara wrote:and your moaning at the moaners.............
Some of you lot must be so boring. You moan about everything and anything. You moan there's nothing to do and when something gets put on you moan it's to cheap! If the council gave away 1million pound next week to anyway who wanted it you would moan that it should have been 5 million! If you don't want to get out and enjoy life, then stay behind your computer but some people like these sort of events!
...moaner
pushamara
says...
4:42pm Tue 15 May 12
localnews wrote:Don't be so pedantic, you muppet....
pushamara wrote: Some of you lot must be so boring. You moan about everything and anything. You moan there's nothing to do and when something gets put on you moan it's to cheap! If the council gave away 1million pound next week to anyway who wanted it you would moan that it should have been 5 million! If you don't want to get out and enjoy life, then stay behind your computer but some people like these sort of events!and your moaning at the moaners............. ...moaner
Fatty x Ford Worker
says...
7:22pm Tue 15 May 12
Georgem
says...
3:49pm Wed 16 May 12
Pikey Pete wrote:How can you afford to go to this, given that the entire nation has 3 pence between them, apparently?
Hope you all agree...For once the Echo has told us BEFORE the event and not reported on it after.
I will now go and see this.
Usually the echo tells us afterwards....How many people never went etc....
So well done the Echo.
Big Mac says...
11:14am Tue 15 May 12
And as for symbolising dwindling natural resources and the part we can play in protecting the planet, yep, giant metal boxes that transport tonnes of junk from one part of the planet to another.