New £100,000 raindrop artwork to overlook Belfast

The six-metre tall sculpture, known as Origin, overlooks Belfast from Squire’s Hill Cavehill Country Park and will be visible from across the city.

When illuminated at night the raindrop will appear to float.

Artist Tracey McVerry from Solas Creative said: “The six-metre tall raindrop, made from polished stainless steel arcs, appears to hover six metres above the ground on a brushed stainless steel plinth and represents the elegant flow of water.

“Then, nestled inside the raindrop, is a fin of Narima glass, giving an ethereal quality and animating the external structure with elements of spectral colour, movement, texture, reflection and refraction which continuously shifts with the changing light and creates an arc of energy reflected back to the viewer.”

Origin has been funded by £100,000 of National Lottery money and is the legacy of a cross community project to celebrate the Farset River.

It is part of the Creative Belfast initiative between Belfast City Council and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland which has invested £900,000 in seven large scale projects such as Belfast Opera, BabyDay and the Nine Nights theatre spectacle.

Deputy lord mayor of Belfast councillor Mary Ellen Campbell said: “Our Creative Belfast initiative was all about investing in big, bold and ambitious cultural projects which would give everyone in Belfast the opportunity to take part in high-quality culture, inspired by our rich heritage. It was also founded on close cultural and community partnership.

“I’m delighted that Origin will be a beautiful legacy. It celebrates the source of the Farset River and all of the people who have helped make Belfast great.”