A bridge pillar public art work by Ian Hamilton Finlay (1925 – 2006) can be seen on some of the pillars remaining from the now disused Caledonian Railway bridge. Ian Hamilton Finlay was a poet, writer, visual artist and gardener who is internationally recognised for his work in all these areas. 

The bridge pillars have a carved excerpt from Plato’s Republic “All Greatness Stands Firm in the Storm” in English and Greek. It is thought to maybe be a comment on the decline of the Empire or industrial heritage maybe? They were created in 1990, the year that Glasgow was European City of Culture, as part of the “New Works for Different Places; Four Cities” project with Television South West Arts – artworks were created in Derry, Glasgow, Newcastle and Plymouth, some temporary, some permanent.

Further information:

A New Path · Existing Artworks · Ian Hamilton Finlay: Bridge Piers, 1990

Interesting snippet – the French Communist Party presented Ian Hamilton Finlay with a bust of Saint Just – read more here.

Walking Route Instructions: To get to our next stop, walk along the front of the Casino and you will see the Clyde Navigation Trust building on the other side of the road.