William Pye - Water Sculpture

William Pye was engaged as a consultant to Nicholas Hare Architects to develop with them a concept for a water sculpture for Cardiff Oval Basin. The architects were in the process of transforming the reclaimed dry dock into a meeting place, clad in decking and with good lighting, which has turned out to be a great success with the public. Pye suggested installing two contrasting water sculptures, one in each of two D-shaped areas that were formerly feeder pits for balancing water-levels in the dock, which are located at each side of the entrance to the oval basin. Pye found the shape of these deep pits to his liking and used the depth of one – a large negative space – to house the pool which receives water from the first triple spout sculpture that he had developed in his studio. The surround of the spout is shaped like a porthole, offering echoes of the Basin’s former use. Both water areas have identical foot-prints, and hold memories of water rising and falling as it had in the days when ships were brought into the area for servicing and repair.