‘The Hauntings’, a scrap metal sculpture of a war-weary soldier, will be on display at five star, award-winning visitor attraction The Black Watch Castle and Museum in Perth between 1 July and 12 November, the only Scottish venue to host the sculpture to date.
The ghostly sculpture, which stands at 6.5 meters high, was commissioned for the World War One centenary in 2014 by a couple based in Somerset, Jo Oliver and Paul Richards, to commemorate those who served in the war. The inspiration behind the sculpture was the reported sightings of a ghostly soldier seen wandering around the Somerset hills close to where Jo grew up, looking for his way home.
Anne Kinnes, CEO of The Black Watch Castle and Museum said: “We are extremely grateful to Jo and Paul for loaning The Hauntings to The Black Watch Castle and Museum, which will allow locals and visitors to stand beside this incredible and emotive sculpture and immerse themselves in all he represents, providing the space and time to reflect on all the physical and mental sacrifices that were made then, so we can live the lives we do today.”
Caroline Warburton, Destination Development Director (Central and Northeast) at Visit Scotland, said: “This is an exciting announcement from The Black Watch Castle and Museum and for Perth. It provides another reason to visit the city this summer, further enhancing the city’s appeal as a destination for arts and culture. Securing the only Scottish appearance of this remarkable sculpture will attract visitors from across the country, not only providing a boost to the city’s economy and tourism businesses, but also the opportunity to showcase Perth and Perthshire.”
The team at the Castle and Museum is currently in the process of planning the logistics of transporting the larger-than-life sculpture to Perth and is creating a series of events and activities to engage visitors of all ages in the stories and themes that The Hauntings represents.