Pic: Swansea City Council
The artist behind one of Swansea’s best-known public works of art was reunited with her creation this week after the Leaf Boat sculpture was unveiled in its new home at Cwmdonkin Park.
Sculptor Amber Hiscott visited the popular Uplands park to see the artwork in place for the first time since its relocation from Castle Square, where it had stood for almost three decades.
Inspired by the poetry of Dylan Thomas, the stained glass and stainless-steel sculpture has been installed within a refurbished pond area close to Park Drive, strengthening its connection with the city’s most celebrated literary figure.
Amber, who was on hand to see the artwork in its new home, said: “The shining Leaf Boat sails on.
“It is lovely to see the sculpture once again, freshly cleaned, and now in the park where Dylan roamed as a child.
“My initial idea for the artwork came from three lines of his poetry: ‘We sail a boat upon the path, and paddle with leaves, down an ecstatic line of light’. I envisioned him playing as a kid, making a boat out of a leaf, setting it on water, and imagining it floating out to sea.
“After being the centrepiece at Castle Gardens and a talking point there for so many years, it is good to see the sculpture in its new home, ready to welcome future generations to Cwmdonkin Park.”
Despite one of the sculpture’s original glass elements missing, a temporary panel has been installed while the council works with Amber to create a replacement.
She said: “I loved working on the sculpture all those years ago and I’m pleased to have the opportunity to create the missing piece some thirty years on, so the artwork can be fully restored for a new generation of park visitors to enjoy.”
The relocation, including creating the sculpture’s new panel, has been made possible through a specific grant from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund and followed extensive discussions involving the artist, council officers and other stakeholders about the future of the artwork.
Cwmdonkin Park holds strong ties to Thomas, who spent his childhood nearby and drew inspiration from the park in his writing, making it a fitting setting for a sculpture inspired by his work.
Over the years the council, supported by the Friends of Cwmdonkin Park and the local community have made significant investments in Dylan’s park.
As well as interpretation boards telling Dylan’s story, tennis courts have recently been refurbished near the park’s café, adding to the feel and atmosphere of the community destination.
Cllr Elliott King, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Human Rights and Equalities, said: “The Leaf Boat was a well-loved feature of Castle Square and a familiar landmark for generations of residents and visitors.
“It’s wonderful to see Amber reunited with her work and to see the sculpture beginning a new chapter in Cwmdonkin Park.
“In many ways it feels like a homecoming. The sculpture was inspired by Dylan Thomas’s poetry and now sits in a park that featured so prominently in his childhood and writing.
“We’re aware that authorities often have to decommission or remove and dispose of public arts due to new developments, so we’re delighted that residents, visitors and Dylan enthusiasts from around the world will be able to enjoy it in such an attractive setting.”
As part of the project, the existing pond was also restored after investigations identified a leak.
It has since been repaired, refreshed and refilled, helping to create an attractive setting that complements the artwork and enhances the experience for park visitors.
The Leaf Boat dates from the mid-1990s and forms part of wider work to protect and celebrate Swansea’s cultural heritage, ensuring an important piece of public art remains accessible.
