THE largest single piece of artwork to be installed in Wales is dominating the skyline on Aberavon beach. Known as the Kite Tail, the 42-foot-high, 17-tonne work of art was placed on the Aberavon’s rain-swept seafront in December 2009.

The artist who designed it, Carmarthenshire-based Andrew Rowe, said, “This is by far the largest single piece of artwork to be installed in Wales and the structural engineers have referred to it as the most complex and challenging structure they have ever dealt with. “The work effectively entails keeping approximately 17 tonnes of flowing steel forms aloft with seemingly very little contact with the ground.” He said of the sculpture, “It was inspired by seeing families flying kites on the long, windy stretch of sand that is Aberavon Beach.

“I made it from steel to reflect the town’s status as one of the major steel producing centres of the world.

“The long, flowing section of the work reflects the ribbons which fly behind kites.”

The huge work of art is accompanied by a partner piece, The Taper, which at four tonnes is still a heavyweight in terms of Welsh public art, but is dwarfed by the Kite Tail.