‘Fish Swallowing Bird’ refers in its theme to the history of Dodshons Drinking Fountain in Ropner Park, Stockton on Tees.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that the original reason for moving the drinking fountain from its location in Stockton town centre, to Ropner Park, was the unhygienic practice of fishmongers at Stockton market. Apparently, the fishmongers would gut and clean their fish in the drinking fountain, a practice that rendered it unpleasant/unfit for its intended use.
From a distance and approaching from the fountain‘Fish Swallowing Bird’ will appear as a two dimensional representation of a leaping salmon, containing the silhouette of a heron. As one nears the work, or approaches it from the two other directions, its actual construction as a three dimensional object will become apparent.
