Twisted Chimney / Simnai Dirdro
Sculpture for Rhymney Valley

This imposing, twisted chimney stands 8 metres high at the north of the Rhymney Valley. It was designed by New York based artist Brian Tolle and is his first installation in the UK. The sculpture was unveiled in 2011 with the aim to create a vision of hope and a nod to the post-industrial heritage of place rather than a being a literal depiction of the area’s past. It is sited near the former Union Ironworks and on land that was once a railway line, and was created with input from the residents of Bute  Town.

The sculpture is 16 metres long and is a realistic brick design which was carved in polycarbonate, then coated in 6mm of Armour-Lyte for durability and strength, before being hand painted by theatre company Steel Monkey.

Please note this project was commissioned by Safle and curated by Emma Price, now Studio Response Co-Director.