Sculptor: Neil Livingstone
Original Installation Date: 1977
Original Location: Buchanan Street
Re-installation Date : 2018
Location: City Campus, Glasgow City College
Description:
The commanding 10 ft high ‘Spirit of Kentigern’ sat for more than two decades outside the House of Fraser store in Buchanan Street.
For many, the controversial sculpture made of resin and powdered bronze, resembled a whale’s tail or a propellor.
The sculptor intended it to represent St Kentigern (aka St Mungo) and one of his four miracles, the bird that never flew.
In 2000, following a revamp of the famous shopping hub, the sculpture was consigned to a Glasgow City Council storage warehouse.
In 2014 ‘Spirit’ made a temporary reappearance as part of ‘Reclaimed: The Second Life of Sculpture’ exhibition at The Briggait in Glasgow’s Merchant City area.
In 2018, the Council granted the City of Glasgow College a 10 year loan of the almost forgotten sculpture which was restored on a new plinth, created by Covanburn Contracts, at the Allan Glen entrance to the college’s City campus.