Bridgwater's Fallen Moon removed early after 'considerable damage'
It's thought poor weather at the weekend damaged the structure
Last updated 22nd Oct 2024
The team behind the giant 10-metre replica of the moon - which deflated at Bridgwater docks at the weekend - say they hope to have more art exhibitions there.
Bridgwater Town Council has confirmed that the Fallen Moon project, in its current iteration, has ended.
During the afternoon of 21st October 2024, officers from the Town Council inspected the platform and the structure, discovering considerable damage to its electronic infrastructure and multiple tears in the Moon fabric.
Artist Luke Jerram commented on the project, stating, “Creating a new large-scale artwork to be presented on water, to withstand weeks of the British weather, is always going to be a challenge. It’s the nature of trying to create new ambitious art projects that they don’t always go exactly to plan."
“Being willing to try new things out and push the limits of your knowledge and skill set is an important part of the development of an artist’s work. It’s through this ambition, trying new things out, and willingness to handle challenges that we all have the opportunity to do great things.”
“Given the size and complexity of the artwork, it was not a project that could be fully tested before being presented and revealed to the public. While it is unfortunate that the artwork did not withstand the storm, we are proud of the Bridgwater team for their hard work in presenting the project and managing the challenges they faced.
“Taking art out of the gallery and into public spaces to reach larger audiences comes with inherent risks but also significant benefits. We are delighted that over 10,000 people in Bridgwater were able to enjoy the artwork before Storm Ashley caused damage."