Artist Jasleen Kaur Draws Inspiration from the River Clyde
Jasleen Kaur has long held a deep fascination with the river that runs through her native city of Glasgow. When commissioned to create a public artwork for the Glasgow 2026 Festival, an event running alongside the Commonwealth Games, she chose to focus on the River Clyde as her central theme.
"My whole relationship to the city of Glasgow revolves around that, as it does for anybody whose families moved here in the 50s and 60s.
All of our lives are totally shaped by that history."
Kaur’s exploration of the river encompasses its historical connections to trade, industry, empire, and its significant role in migration. Her own family’s history is intertwined with the shipyards of Govan, where previous generations settled. These reflections have been embodied in eight weathervane-like sculptures collectively titled Superstructure.
Each sculpture consists of a steel pole topped with a gold aluminium phrase that rotates with the wind, posing questions about home, nationality, and ownership. Examples include signs reading "I was here b4 you" and "This should be public," which move between landmarks such as Scottish Enterprise's headquarters and the new Barclays Bank.
Jasleen Kaur’s Background and Artistic Focus
Born in Glasgow in 1986, Jasleen Kaur’s artistic work frequently delves into themes of cultural memory. In 2024, she was awarded the Turner Prize for a body of work that celebrated her Scottish Sikh heritage. This work was exhibited at Tramway, a venue located in Pollokshields, the area where she was raised.
For her latest project, which marks her first major work in Glasgow since winning the prize, Kaur collaborated with Jude Barber from Collective Architecture. Barber shares a similar curiosity about the Clyde, some of which she has discussed with writer Louise Welsh on their podcast Who Owns The Clyde?
"I think as a resident you're asking these questions of yourself,"
"And to have this collection of questions as moments along the river is a good way to reposition our relationship with the river as a city. Art has that power to do that."
Public Art Initiatives Along the River Clyde
The Superstructure installation is one of 161 projects funded by the Glasgow 2026 Festival, which spans 10 weeks concurrent with the Commonwealth Games. A key goal of the festival is to transform city streets, parks, and neighbourhoods into vibrant stages and exhibition spaces.
"It's a spectacular summer of sport in Scotland this year, but actually having arts and culture at the heart of our games is really important,"said Phil Batty, CEO of Glasgow 2026.
"Major events are really powerful catalysts for places, but without arts and culture they don't have a sense of community, and actually what community brings is great storytelling."
Kaur hopes that her artwork will remain part of the community beyond the festival’s conclusion on August 10th. She has gifted all eight components of Superstructure—which are installed between the Broomielaw and the Briggait—to the city, although their permanent locations have not yet been determined.
"They feel very specific to this site so it's a very simple decision to want them to live on somewhere, and not be kept in storage somewhere,"Kaur explained.
Jude Barber expressed enthusiasm about the artworks’ continued presence in Glasgow, emphasizing their role in the city’s transformation.
"I think everyone has a part to play in the transformation of the city and this is an incredible example of that,"Barber said.
"We need more public art down here at the river and more activity happening on the river. I'd love to see more."
