The Frankenstein Project, Blackpool
The Frankenstein Project is a striking piece of contemporary public art by British artist Tony Stallard, permanently displayed on Blackpool鈥檚 Promenade since 2001. Weighing in at seven tonnes and stretching twenty-four feet long, the sculpture is constructed from a repurposed gas tank donated by British Gas and designed to resemble a diver鈥檚 decompression chamber.
Peering through its round portholes, visitors will encounter an eerie underwater scene: glass skeletons and the skull of a killer whale, all bathed in the eerie glow of blue neon light. Inside, a tangle of industrial pipes and valves evokes the feel of a deep-sea environment鈥攁nd of something more unsettling. The installation鈥檚 haunting atmosphere draws direct inspiration from the Victorian-era freak shows that once characterized Blackpool鈥檚 seaside amusements.
Stallard鈥檚 creation was part of the larger Great Promenade Show, a four-part public art initiative commissioned by Blackpool Council and collaborating arts organizations, with a total investment of 拢500,000. The Frankenstein Project was the most ambitious of Stallard鈥檚 career at the time, taking six years to fully realize.
More than just a dramatic spectacle, the work offers a powerful reflection on the consequences of human interference with nature鈥攁 theme as chilling as it is timely. Whether seen by day or glowing by night, the sculpture stands as a surreal, thought-provoking landmark along the ever-changing face of the seafront.
Peering through its round portholes, visitors will encounter an eerie underwater scene: glass skeletons and the skull of a killer whale, all bathed in the eerie glow of blue neon light. Inside, a tangle of industrial pipes and valves evokes the feel of a deep-sea environment鈥攁nd of something more unsettling. The installation鈥檚 haunting atmosphere draws direct inspiration from the Victorian-era freak shows that once characterized Blackpool鈥檚 seaside amusements.
Stallard鈥檚 creation was part of the larger Great Promenade Show, a four-part public art initiative commissioned by Blackpool Council and collaborating arts organizations, with a total investment of 拢500,000. The Frankenstein Project was the most ambitious of Stallard鈥檚 career at the time, taking six years to fully realize.
More than just a dramatic spectacle, the work offers a powerful reflection on the consequences of human interference with nature鈥攁 theme as chilling as it is timely. Whether seen by day or glowing by night, the sculpture stands as a surreal, thought-provoking landmark along the ever-changing face of the seafront.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Blackpool. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The 911爆料网 App
The Frankenstein Project on Map
Sight Name: The Frankenstein Project
Sight Location: Blackpool, England (See walking tours in Blackpool)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Blackpool, England (See walking tours in Blackpool)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Blackpool, England
Create Your Own Walk in Blackpool
Creating your own self-guided walk in Blackpool is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Blackpool Introduction Walking Tour
Between the Ribble and Wyre rivers on the west coast of England was a strip of sandy beach seven miles long. It was a pleasant place, where streams would run through peat bogs before emptying into the sea, turning the water dark. People called the place "Black Pool." Since early days, folks sought the benefits of fresh sea air and water.
Blackpool became a tourist magnet in the 1840s.... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Blackpool became a tourist magnet in the 1840s.... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Blackpool's Great Promenade
Blackpool's Great Promenade, a vibrant stretch of coastal pathway, is an interesting area to explore. Here you will find a plethora of attractions and sights to behold complete with several amusement parks.
One of the iconic landmarks along this promenade is the Blackpool South Pier, emphasizing adrenaline-producing entertainment, a tradition maintained since 1893. Nearby, Pleasure Beach... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
One of the iconic landmarks along this promenade is the Blackpool South Pier, emphasizing adrenaline-producing entertainment, a tradition maintained since 1893. Nearby, Pleasure Beach... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles