More Industrial Iconography

As the art project continues, we have had a visit to the new Riverside Museum in Glasgow.  As a design, this museum is gorgeous.  It has been created so beautifully and thoughtfully.  For example, the area that is devoted to Clyde shipbuilding has a superb gyrating machine that carries models of the notable ships built in the area.  It is mesmerising and as each ship passes a plasma screen, details come up about it.  But most amazing is that as you leave the area of the museum, there is a huge picture window that gives a view of the Clyde and all the old shipbuilding warehouses and cranes. So you immediately know you are at the point of living history.  A brilliant piece of design.  Secondly, there is a fabulous reflection of the Tall Ship - Glenlee - in the glass wall of the museum.

My daughter was photographing the Pilcher Bat - an example of design that changed the world, I am told.  The Pilcher designs are known for being the original aircraft that actually flew.  A pity that he died in the process!  The one in the Riverside is a copy and is a bit incongruous as part of the exhibition as the Riverside focus is on Clyde shipbuilding and wheeled transport - so, as the only aviation exhibit, this looks lovely, but is not relevant to the rest of the museum. The original Pilcher Hawk - the best known and the first, is at the Museum of Flight in East Lothian, but is not currently on display.  The curator told me when I called that it was likely to be moved to the new Museum (see other posts!) in central Edinburgh when they open some more galleries.  We hope so because despite their obvious (death-inducing) faults, they are wonderful designs.