A Swansea artist and local business are helping to celebrate the greener and more welcoming future of a key city centre location.
Hasan Kamil and Oner Signs have worked with Swansea Council to design and install a large-scale artwork for the public to enjoy as they pass the Castle Square Gardens development site.
The work – around 15m x 2m in size – has gone up on safety hoardings at the junction of Princess Way and Temple Street, close to new community services hub Y Storfa.
The digitally composed, collage-style artwork is Hasan’s representation of wildlife – including bees, birds and butterflies – and greenery that will help make Castle Square Gardens a more welcoming environment upon its completion. The area’s humanity and built heritage is also represented on the artwork.
Behind the hoardings, main work is about to start on the location’s transformation project, with detailed preparation work having been undertaken by contractor Knights Brown.
Council leader Rob Stewart said:
“Hasan and Oner Signs are high-quality local operators who recognise how important this location’s bright future is to local people. I thank them for their work and expertise.
“Our greener, more people-friendly Castle Square Gardens will be a vital element in our ongoing £1bn regeneration programme for Swansea.
“It will be a modern, functional and well maintained public space that can accommodate a range of events and cultural experiences.”
Elliott King, council cabinet member for culture, human rights and equalities, said:
“This excellent new public art transforms the visual impact of a construction site, brightens the streets and makes the city centre a more pleasant place to visit.
“It’s an engaging artwork that increases creativity in the public domain, demonstrates local artistic excellence and inspires positivity.
“We plan to install public art on other development site hoardings.”
Hasan Kamil, a Swansea resident who was born and raised in the city, said:
“I’m delighted to contribute to the streetscape in a way that reflects the exciting, greener future of Castle Square Gardens.”
He was commissioned to undertake the artwork design after experienced artists had been invited to submit proposals.
His previous work includes commissions for Swansea City AFC, Swansea University and the city’s Olchfa School.
Ronny Oner, of Swansea-based Oner Signs, said:
“It’s great to have been involved in this public art project that helps illustrate how our city centre is evolving – and how Swansea is full of creative talent.”
The business, offering an integrated sign, design, print, graffiti and mural service, was established 30 years ago and has a base in Swansea city centre.
The project costs – including those for the artwork – have been met mainly through council funding and a Welsh Government Transforming Towns grant.
