Imagine giraffes casually roaming the streets of Edinburgh. But these are no ordinary giraffes. They are the Giraffes Sculpture. These metal creatures stand tall near the Omni Centre.
The Giraffes Sculpture is officially titled “Dreaming Spires”. But locals know them affectionately as Martha and Gilbert. The artist Helen Denerley and her team gave them these nicknames. Denerley created the Giraffes Sculpture in 2005. The Omni Centre had invited six artists to design a sculpture. The sculpture should relate to the history of the site. Denerley felt the site was crying out for giraffes.
The Giraffes Sculpture consists of two open-work metal giraffes. There is a mother and a calf. They stand in front of the Omni Centre’s glass facade. The giraffes tower above passers-by. They appear to ponder which way to go. Like tourists deciding their route towards Princes Street.
The Giraffes Sculpture is made from recycled metal. Discarded motorbike and car parts form their bodies. Curvilinear forms and open spaces define their structure. Some surfaces are textured. Others are volumetric. Black paint unifies the recycled metal. This gives the Giraffes Sculpture a light and lively appearance.
A poem by Roy Campbell surrounds the Giraffes Sculpture. It is written in raised bronze letters on the paving. The poem “Giraffes” was written in 1946. It reads: “People Who live between earth and skies Each in his own religious steeple Keeping a lighthouse with his eyes”.
The OMNI shopping center held a contest in 2004. For a public artwork to be designed on its front square. Artist Helen Denerley saw him as a perfect inspiration. Although Campbell was South African, he was born to Scottish parents. Denerley paraphrased that giraffes were what the site was crying out for.
The Giraffes Sculpture sometimes faces challenges. In August 2005, newspapers reported vandalism to the smaller giraffe’s tail. Helen Denerley explained that the tail unraveled. People touching it caused the damage. She welded a steel band around it to prevent further unraveling.
The Giraffes Sculpture is a popular spot for photographs. Out-of-towners often capture images of these northerly giraffes. They also read the quote at their feet. These scrap metal giraffes are a testament to art. They are a symbol of Edinburgh’s quirky charm. So next time you are in Edinburgh, be sure to visit Martha and Gilbert. These metal giants watch over Greenside Place. They are a reminder that art can be found in the most unexpected places.