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The Sculpture
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Allan has created a simple structure from polished steel, which is in deliberate contrast to the randomness of nature. He chose metal because it has become a part of the landscape of farming and forestry. The stylised tree-like shape and the shiny surfaces which reflect the surrounding forest make a link with the immediate area. Allan’s reference to other industries, however, puts the forest in a wider context. His methods of construction and use of clearly visible rivets, are exaggerated to represent the high-tech industries that are so important to Aberdeen. The ambiguous shape also refers to a variety of images associated with the North-East: the land (ploughed fields), the sea (waves), and the oil industry (a flame). The title also refers to fire, a structure for guiding, warning or marking. As trees blow in the wind, reflections create a sense of movement in the bright metal, like the flames of a hill top beacon.
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Beacon is situated on a mound which allows the sculpture to be seen from a distance. The mound acts like a natural plinth, raising the work above the forest floor. The surrounding space allows plenty of light to reach the sculpture and to reflect off its surfaces.
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