Alliance, Modern sculpture at The Hayes in Cardiff, United Kingdom
Alliance is a modern sculpture at The Hayes in Cardiff, made from stainless steel, vitreous enamel, and polycarbonate. A large steel arrow stands alongside a hoop filled with phosphorescent liquid that glows at night.
The sculpture was unveiled in 2009 as a public art installation funded by the St David's Shopping Centre. It marks an important moment in Cardiff's commitment to art in public spaces.
Text projections on the pavement feature poetry by Cardiff author Peter Finch about the city in both English and Welsh. Visitors walking by can read these words and get a personal sense of how local writers see their home.
The sculpture sits at the intersection of St David's Shopping Centre, Cardiff Library, and John Lewis department store, making it easy to locate. You can see it both during the day and at night, with the glowing liquid making it particularly visible after dark.
The metallic hoop extends partially below the pavement and moves with a mechanism synchronized to Bristol Channel tides. This hidden connection to nature creates a subtle link between the artwork and the geography surrounding the city.
Location: Cardiff
Inception: 2009
Creator: Jean-Bernard Métais
Made from material: stainless steel, vitreous enamel, polycarbonate
GPS coordinates: 51.47800,-3.17540
Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:06
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