See Monster

File:See Monster Weston-Super-Mare 2 (52279374946).jpg

See Monster was originally a North Sea offshore platform and was one of ten works commissioned as part of Unboxed: Creativity in the UK, a nationwide arts festival based around science, technology, engineering and mathematics.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-58980615|title=Unboxed: Oil rig in lido to form part of UK-wide arts event|work=BBC News|date=20 October 2021}}{{cite news |url=https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2021-10-23/huge-north-sea-oil-rig-to-be-brought-to-weston-super-mare-beach |title=Huge North Sea oil rig to be brought to Weston-super-Mare beach |work=ITV News |date=23 October 2021 |access-date=23 September 2022}} The installation was located at the Tropicana, an events space and former lido that had previously hosted the Banksy art installation Dismaland in 2015.{{cite web |url=https://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/news/see-monster-arrives-weston-super-mare-2022 |title=SEE MONSTER arrives at Weston-super-Mare in 2022 |website=North Somerset Council |date=21 October 2021 |access-date=14 November 2022}} It was a work of the Leeds creative studio NewSubstance and was supported by North Somerset Council.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/art/reviews/see-monster-unboxed-weston-super-mare-review-playground-oil/ |title=A playground on an oil rig? See Monster puts the 'Festival of Brexit' grumbles to rest |last=Lytton |first=Charlotte |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |url-access=limited |date=23 September 2022 |access-date=24 September 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://secretbristol.com/see-monster-unboxed-2022/|title=A Public Art Installation on Board an Offshore Platform is Heading to the South West Next Year|date=27 October 2021}} It was expected to cost £10.5 million.{{cite web |url=https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Investigation-into-the-UNBOXED-festival.pdf |title=Investigation into the UNBOXED festival |id=HC 938 |publisher=National Audit Office |date=1 December 2022 |access-date=3 December 2022}}

The intention of See Monster was to inspire people to discuss the sustainable reuse of industrial structures.{{cite web |title=FAQs |url=https://seemonster.co.uk/faqs/ |website=SEE MONSTER |access-date=2022-10-13}} Martin Green, chief creative officer of Unboxed, said that the installation would "take something that took from the earth and ask it to give back."{{cite news |title=Unboxed festival: Watchdog urged to investigate £120m 'waste of money' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-62658750 |access-date=24 September 2022 |last=Razzall |first=Katie |work=BBC News |date=22 September 2022}} The installation was purported to be the first example in the world of an offshore platform being repurposed after decommissioning, rather than scrapped.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-62665588 |title=Opening of Weston-super-Mare See Monster display delayed |newspaper=BBC News |date=24 August 2022 |access-date=1 November 2022}}

The 450-tonne platform was stripped, repaired and cleaned in a shipyard in the Netherlands over 12 months.{{cite news |url=https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2022-07-13/what-is-the-see-monster-the-old-north-sea-oil-rig-now-in-seaside-town |title=What is the See Monster? The old North Sea oil rig that's arrived in Weston-super-Mare |work=ITV News |date=13 July 2022 |access-date=20 November 2022}} It arrived in Weston-super-Mare by barge on 13 July 2022 and was moved onto the beach by a Mammoet self-propelled modular transporter.{{cite news |url=https://www.energyvoice.com/oilandgas/north-sea/427168/see-monster-platform-arrives-in-uk-for-arts-festival/ |title=SEE here: Decommissioned North Sea platform arrives for UK arts festival |last=Dykes |first=Andrew |website=Energy Voice |publisher=DC Thomson |date=16 July 2022 |access-date=20 November 2022}} A 1,500-tonne crane lifted it onto a set of pre-constructed legs within the Tropicana on 16 July.{{cite web |title=A big week for SEE MONSTER |url=https://seemonster.co.uk/a-big-week-for-see-monster/ |website=SEE MONSTER |access-date=2022-10-13}}{{cite news |url=https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/whats-on/see-monster-first-glimpse-inside-7615395 |title=SEE Monster: The first glimpse inside towering installation as it opens to public |last=Pickstock |first=Heather |newspaper=SomersetLive |date=23 September 2022 |access-date=20 November 2022}}

The opening had originally been planned for July to coincide with the summer holidays, but was ultimately delayed until 23 September.{{cite news |last1=Pickstock |first1=Heather |title=SEE Monster opening delayed by a month as project suffers setback |url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/local-news/see-monster-opening-delayed-month-7503999 |access-date=1 September 2022 |work=SomersetLive |date=24 August 2022 |language=en}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2022/sep/23/its-going-to-split-opinion-huge-weston-super-mare-installation-opens |title='It's going to split opinion': huge Weston-super-Mare installation opens |last=Morris |first=Steven |newspaper=The Guardian |date=23 September 2022 |access-date=23 September 2022}} The delay was attributed to the unprecedented nature of the project and to the weather, with construction work being unable to take place during high winds, rain or lightning. A viewing platform opened on 15 August, allowing visitors to watch the construction.{{cite news |url=https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/viewing-platform-see-monster-art-7447195 |title=Viewing platform for SEE Monster art installation to open |last=Pickstock |first=Heather |newspaper=SomersetLive |date=10 August 2022 |access-date=18 April 2023}} The installation was intended to be open until 5 November, but this was later extended to 20 November.{{cite news |url=https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/see-monster-stay-weston-super-7756286 |title=SEE Monster to stay in Weston-super-Mare for several more weeks |last=Pickstock |first=Heather |newspaper=SomersetLive |date=28 October 2022 |access-date=28 October 2022}}

{{multiple image

| align = right

| direction = vertical

| width = 225

| image1 = See Monster, at night.jpg

| alt1 = An offshore platform repurposed as an art installation, with walkways and foliage, illuminated by orange light at night.

| caption1 = See Monster illuminated at night

| image2 = See Monster 02 - Wind Nest.JPG

| alt2 = An artwork consisting of dual wind turbines overlooking a seafront.

| caption2 = The WindNest by Trevor Lee

| image3 = See Monster 02 - Garden Lab and kinetic wind sculptures.JPG

| alt3 = Trees, grasses and two sculptures aboard a former offshore platform converted into an art installation.

| caption3 = The Garden Lab with kinetic sculptures by Ivan Black

}}

See Monster was {{convert|35|m|ft}} tall and had four distinct levels.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-63004739 |title=Weston-super-Mare See Monster opens to public |newspaper=BBC News |date=23 September 2022 |access-date=13 October 2022}} A {{convert|10|m|ft|sing=on}} waterfall representing the monster's roar cascaded into the pool in which the platform stood. Above this were the Cellar Deck, Garden Lab and Helideck.{{cite web |title=360 tour |url=https://seemonster.co.uk/virtual-tour/#s=pano15916 |website=SEE MONSTER |access-date=2022-10-13}} More than 6,000 pieces made up a shimmering kinetic artwork representing the monster's scales and a {{convert|16|m|ft|sing=on}} crane represented the monster's head and neck.

Other features included a garden of trees and plants grown to survive in a coastal microclimate, a cloud-making machine, an amphitheatre, telescopes to show the view and a curly slide.{{cite web |title=Onboard SEE MONSTER! |url=https://seemonster.co.uk/onboard-see-monster/ |website=SEE MONSTER |access-date=2022-10-13}} The installation's irrigation system was powered using renewable energy generated by the WindNest, an artwork by Trevor Lee comprising two rotating pods generating wind power, and the Solar Tree, comprising a solar panel mounted atop a metal tree generating solar power.{{cite news |url=https://www.designboom.com/art/see-monster-installation-weston-super-mare-uk-09-23-2022/ |title=coastal infrastructure transformed into massive accessible installation 'SEE monster' |last=Barandy |first=Kat |newspaper=DesignBoom |date=23 September 2022 |access-date=18 December 2022}}{{cite news |url=https://www.solartechnology.co.uk/news/see-monster-roars-into-action-with-help-from-solar-technology-international/ |title=SEE MONSTER roars into action with help from Solar Technology International |newspaper=Solar Technology International |date=28 October 2022 |access-date=20 December 2022}}{{cite web |title=The Monster |url=https://seemonster.co.uk/the-monster/ |website=SEE MONSTER |access-date=2022-12-20}} There were also two kinetic sculptures by Ivan Black representing the Sun and Moon, as well as a studio from which radio programmes and podcasts were broadcast.

In addition to the physical installation, there was a learning programme offering educational visits and resources to schoolchildren, young people, Scouts, youth groups and students and a think tank programme involving local residents.{{cite web |url=https://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/news/legacy-see-monster |title=The Legacy of SEE MONSTER |website=North Somerset Council |date=24 November 2022 |access-date=25 November 2022}}

Prior to See Monster's opening, a series of three drone light shows called The Awakening took place on Weston-super-Mare seafront on 28 August, 30 August and 1 September 2022.{{cite news |title='Amazing' drone laser show lights up Weston-super-Mare's See Monster |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-62714063 |access-date=1 September 2022 |work=BBC News |date=30 August 2022}} They were performed by SkyMagic and involved 400 drones.

Patrick O'Mahony, See Monster's creative director, expected that the installation would "split opinion" but remarked that he would "rather people love it or hate it rather than being indifferent" and that "there's nothing worse than doing something people have no reaction to." Charlotte Lytton, writing for The Telegraph, compared See Monster favourably to Dismaland and remarked, "even if its eco-message does not entirely cut through, this is the better end of public art: a supersized spectacle in equal parts immersive and unusual."

Julian Knight, chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, said that the installation looked "fantastic" but criticised the fact that the delay caused it to miss the summer holidays, questioned the relevance of it and the other Unboxed installations to the public and described the festival as an "irresponsible use of public money."{{cite news |url=https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/see-monster-slammed-irresponsible-use-7688713 |title=SEE Monster slammed on Radio 4 as 'irresponsible use of public money' |last=Brown |first=Shannon |website=SomersetLive |publisher=Reach |date=11 October 2022 |access-date=14 November 2022}} The installation's delay was also criticised locally, although some suggested that the later opening had helped to prolong Weston-super-Mare's tourist season.{{cite news |title=Weston-super-Mare's See Monster closes, but what will be its legacy? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-63700846 |access-date=27 September 2022 |last1=Hallett |first1=Emma |last2=Craig |first2=James |work=BBC News |date=26 September 2022}} Knight called for an investigation into the festival and the National Audit Office (NAO) subsequently announced that it would conduct one.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/oct/11/public-spending-watchdog-to-investigate-festival-of-brexit |title=Public spending watchdog to investigate 'festival of Brexit' |last=Quinn |first=Ben |newspaper=The Guardian |date=11 October 2022 |access-date=19 November 2022}}

Unboxed announced overall audience engagement of 1,087,646 for See Monster, including 512,261 through visitation, 87,211 through the learning programme and 5,852 through participation, as well as 394,822 through digital media, 67,500 through broadcast media and 20,000 through print media.{{cite web |url=https://unboxed2022.uk/sites/default/files/2023-03/00%20UNBOXED%20Final%20Evaluation%20-%20Main%20Impact%20and%20Economic%20Evaluation%20Report%20-%20March%202023%20-%20FINAL.pdf |title=Unboxed: Creativity in the UK Evaluation Report |publisher=Unboxed: Creativity in the UK |date=March 2023 |access-date=16 April 2023}} North Somerset Council reported that 6,000 engaged with the think tank programme and an estimated 70,000 attended the drone light shows.

The installation was reported to have attracted visitors from across the country and from abroad, with some queuing for two to three hours to enter.{{cite news |url=https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/huge-see-monster-queues-weston-7685353 |title=Huge SEE Monster queues in Weston-super-Mare as visitors wait two hours to visit |last=Pickstock |first=Heather |website=SomersetLive |publisher=Reach |date=10 October 2022 |access-date=14 November 2022}} See Monster's success provided an economic boost to Weston-super-Mare, with numerous local businesses reporting increased custom during its opening.{{cite news |url=https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/whats-on/see-monster-bigger-dismaland-weston-7779792 |title=SEE Monster 'bigger than Dismaland' for Weston-super-Mare |last=Pickstock |first=Heather |newspaper=SomersetLive |date=6 November 2022 |access-date=6 November 2022}} Unboxed cited the installation's popularity as the reason for extending its opening. Some local residents called for it to remain permanently.{{cite news |url=https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/see-monster-lit-up-final-7838117 |title=SEE Monster to be lit up for its final weekend before structure decommissioned |last=Abbott |first=Caroline |website=SomersetLive |publisher=Reach |date=18 November 2022 |access-date=19 November 2022}}

On 30 May 2023, See Monster was the popular choice winner in the Pop-Ups & Temporary category in the 2023 Architizer A+Awards.{{cite web|title=We are excited to reveal that SEE MONSTER has won an @Architizer A+ Award in the public choice 'Pop Ups & Temporary' category!⁠|url=https://twitter.com/NEWSUBSTANCE/status/1663583707859394561?cxt=HHwWgoCxka-knpYuAAAA|author=New Substance|publisher=Twitter|date=30 May 2023|access-date=1 June 2023}}{{cite web |title=2023 Typology Winners - Architizer A+Awards|url=https://winners.architizer.com/2023/Typology/commercial-12/pop-ups-temporary-4/|website=Architizer|access-date=1 June 2023}}

Work to dismantle See Monster began on 21 November 2022 and was completed in early 2023.{{cite news |title=Weston-super-Mare See Monster to be decommissioned from Monday |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-63677500 |access-date=20 November 2022 |work=BBC News |date=19 November 2022}}{{cite news |title=Farewell SEE MONSTER |url=https://seemonster.co.uk/farewell-see-monster/ |access-date=22 November 2022 |work=SEE MONSTER |date=21 November 2022}}{{cite news |url=https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/see-monster-reduced-pile-steel-8045907 |title=SEE MONSTER reduced to pile of steel on Weston-super-Mare seafront |last=Pickstock |first=Heather |website=SomersetLive |publisher=Reach |date=22 January 2023 |access-date=16 April 2023}} The structure was recycled, with some of the features being donated to local projects and the trees and plants being replanted around Weston-super-Mare.{{cite news |url=https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/whats-on/see-monster-large-queues-expected-7819028 |title=SEE Monster: Large queues expected as seafront attraction enters its final week |last=Pickstock |first=Heather |website=SomersetLive |publisher=Reach |date=15 November 2022 |access-date=20 November 2022}}{{cite news |url=https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/whats-on/first-see-monster-trees-planted-7894807 |title=First SEE Monster trees planted in Weston-super-Mare park |last=Pickstock |first=Heather |website=SomersetLive |publisher=Reach |date=6 December 2022 |access-date=14 December 2022}} See Monster Garden, a public garden on Weston-super-Mare seafront featuring many of the trees and plants from the installation, and intended as a lasting legacy, opened on 24 July 2023.{{cite web |url=https://n-somerset.gov.uk/my-services/libraries-leisure-open-spaces/beaches-coast/see-monster-garden-petanque-court |title=SEE MONSTER garden and pétanque court |website=North Somerset Council |access-date=24 July 2023}}

{{reflist}}

{{Commonscategory|See Monster}}

• {{Official|https://seemonster.co.uk/}}
• {{cite web |url=https://licensing.screenocean.com/record/604693 |title=Art installation See Monster arrives in Weston-super-Mare |website=Screenocean |id=604693 |date=13 July 2022}} - video of arrival onto beach, and interview with creative director

Category:Weston-super-Mare

Category:Arts in Somerset

Category:Public art in England

Category:Oil platforms