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Press Release
Unique Sculpture of the Solar System Unveiled in Falkland Islands
2 December 2004




On 27 November an outdoor scale model of the solar system, an out of the ordinary piece of artwork made from retrieved Falklands metals, was unveiled in the Falkland Islands.

The artwork is a new and unique visitor attraction for the Islands created by Falklands resident Rob Yssel. Each planet has been made from metals found in the Islands, including aluminium, chrome, copper, iron, lead, silver and zinc and stands alone as a work of art. The individual planets have been placed to scale in the capital Stanley and on surrounding hills. The Sun, located at the epicentre of the artwork, was officially opened by Miss Sukey Cameron, Falkland Islands Government UK Representative. It is represented by a sphere 1.4m in diameter, and is visible from any of the other planets. The central piece also has the planets mounted to scale around it.

Some of the first tourists to discover the new sculpture came ashore from the world famous Queen Elizabeth II which arrived in the Islands on 29 November. Over 1,200 passengers came ashore to participate in tours of the Islands.

Rob Yssel said: "The model should encourage visitors and local residents to reflect on the size of our solar system and the beauty of our planet. It is possible to complete a circuit of all the sculptures on foot, taking in new vistas of Stanley and the Islands whilst learning more about our place in the universe."


NOTES TO EDITORS
For more information about the Falkland Islands and additional photography please contact Abby Smith or Iona-Jane McGilchrist on 020 7287 0652 or email iona-jane@keenepa.co.uk

1. The Falkland Islands Solar System Model was created by Dutch-born, but long-time Stanley resident, Rob Yssel.

2. It uses a scale of 1:1,000,000,000. This means that Pluto is located 5.9kms from the Sun.

3. The main tourist season in the Islands runs from October to April. Between 30,000 and 40,000 tourists visit the Islands each year. The majority of the visitors come from cruise ships which stop in the Islands. Over 130 ships will visit the Islands this season. The Islands also receive land-based tourists, many of whom are ornithologists, photographers, fishermen and wildlife enthusiasts.

4. This is the second time the QE2 has visited the Islands, the first time was in 1992.



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