Still Pond Sculpture by Alan Burke

A stainless steel memorial to the flax industry

The blue flax flower, Linum usitatissimum,  was once a familiar sight across Ireland during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, a sight that was part of the country’s long association with linen production. Bessbrook in County Armagh played a central role in this heritage: its mill processed flax into the strong, fine fibres that were used to create the renowned Irish linen.

The Camlough River was harnessed at Bessbrook Pond to power the mill machinery that transformed raw flax into the fibres from which linen fabric was made. Sculptor, Alan Burke, was commissioned to create a sculpture celebrating the history of the River Camlough and its connection with the flax trade. The sculpture, named Still Pond, is a six-metre-high stainless steel sculpture with a sweeping, curved stem embossed with a pattern inspired by woven linen.

The flower itself is formed from Mirror-finish PVD stainless steel in Cobalt Blue, with both sides of the stainless steel sheet having the PVD finish applied. This enabled Alan to create the flower head with the richly coloured and reflective surface on the interior and exterior of the petals.