The ‘Dream’ by Jaume Plensa is an art sculpture based in St Helens Merseyside. It is based upon the idea ‘When we dream, anything is possible’ and is located in Sutton Manor, St Helens in the north of the UK.
If you have an hour or so to spare and don’t know what to do with your time, why not visit this beautiful art installation?
It’s a fascinating sculpture to witness in the flesh, with a great story behind it.
The story
The North West of England is where the story begins, set in the small town of St Helens, Merseyside. Originally there were plans to build a sculpture to represent mining, as that is what the area was known for, but the miners wanted something more present-day and progressive.
Jaume Plensa, a famous designer and architect from Spain, came up with the idea. He wanted something original and yet would stand the test of time, and so came up with the idea of the ‘Dream’.
The Dream takes the form of the head and neck of a 9-year-old girl that has been elongated by a third. Her eyes are closed in quiet contemplation or meditation, dreaming not only about her future but also that of the former colliery site in St Helens. It’s a really spectacular experience up close!
The sculpture is constructed from English concrete and Spanish dolomite marble, which should last for years to come.
It was proposed that the landmark will give hope and aspirations for future generations and become a positive symbol for the area.
It’s white to replicate light and to contrast the darkness of the mine and coal that lie beneath. Finally, the head sits on a miners plinth as part of the heritage of the site.
At night time the structure is lit up, with an additional beam of light from the sculpture’s head that goes into the sky.
About the sculpture
The sculpture cost 1.8 million GBP (2.6 million USD) to make. It’s 20 metres high (66 feet), however its foundations go twice that depth underground. The casting process took 60 working days, and the entire sculpture (head and plinth) weighs approximately 373 tonnes!
On average, 100,000 vehicles pass Dream daily, equating to more than 35 million vehicles each year. When you get to the site, you can scan a QR code with your smartphone that allows you to listen to an audio guide, telling you all of these interesting facts and figures.
How to get to the Dream
The Dream is located at Sutton Manor Colliery in St.Helens, Merseyside. Midway between Liverpool and Manchester, Dream is close to Junction 7 of the M62 motorway in England. It’s totally free to visit, so a trip there will be a great cost-effective day out.
Follow the signs from the bottom of the hill and walk upwards for about ten minutes. You should be able to see the head poking out at the top of the trees.
When you get to the top, you’ll be able to see across the Cheshire and Lancashire plains, out to the beautiful snow-capped mountains of Snowdonia, the Pennines, the Peak District, and even some of Manchester’s landmarks!
History
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