The Scattered Shoal

The Scattered Shoal is the centrepiece mosaic of the Amphitheatre at Kerr Street. Created in 2012 by international artist Orla Kaminska it represents a circling shoal of mackerel being a reference to the shoals of mackerel swimming in the coastal waters around Portrush. It also reminds us of the threat from over-fishing, pollution and climate change.

Scattered Shoal by Orla Kaminska Close Up
Scattered Shoal by Orla Kaminska Close Up

The mosaic is created from more than 50,000 pieces of hand-painted ceramic tesserae and two hundred handmade ceramic mackerel. The artist used Vitrified Ceramic Mosaic, Earthstone Clay, Oxides and Matt Glaze in the creation of her work.

Scattered Shoal by Orla Kaminska
Scattered Shoal by Orla Kaminska

Quirky coloured lights are incorporated into the work which, in conjunction with the coloured lighting within the Amphitheatre and its surrounding area and the overhead sail-like canopy, creates an ever-changing light show around the artwork.