Cut From The Factory Floor
Cut From the Factory Floor (2015) is a public artwork by Scottish artist Iain Kettles, commissioned for Glasgow Life's PULSE / Legacy 2014 programme. Fabricated from corten steel, the sculpture takes the form of a giant roll of carpet, its spiralling form echoing the industrial processes once carried out at the historic Templeton Carpet Factory, located directly across from its site on Glasgow Green. The work acts as a sculptural reminder of the area's manufacturing heritage, placing a stylised interpretation of a "factory floor" product back into the public realm it once shaped.
The steel "carpet roll" sits on a green space along London Road, where its weathering surface and bold geometry contrast with the surrounding architecture. By referencing the rolled textiles historically produced at Templeton's workshop, Cut From the Factory Floor connects contemporary Glasgow to its industrial past, engaging viewers with materials and forms deeply rooted in the city's manufacturing identity. Its corten steel construction ensures long-term durability while allowing the surface to develop a warm, rust-like patina that enhances its tactile, industrial character.
The steel "carpet roll" sits on a green space along London Road, where its weathering surface and bold geometry contrast with the surrounding architecture. By referencing the rolled textiles historically produced at Templeton's workshop, Cut From the Factory Floor connects contemporary Glasgow to its industrial past, engaging viewers with materials and forms deeply rooted in the city's manufacturing identity. Its corten steel construction ensures long-term durability while allowing the surface to develop a warm, rust-like patina that enhances its tactile, industrial character.
