The artist developed Mapping from old and new maps of Kielder creating fairways and obstacles from these maps with holes and start points that refer to past and present locations within the valley spread out over the course on a number of levels. Mapping uses bright finishes and colours and is a fully accessible, highly visual and entertaining ‘must-play’ experience.

Mapping minigolf is located within Kielder Waterside and is fully accessible.

Map Ref: NY660879

In 2004 artist Wolfgang Weileder was commissioned to create a new minigolf course for Kielder Waterside. Looking at old and new maps of the area he developed the idea of creating fairways and obstacles from features taken from these maps with holes and start points that used names and symbols referring to past and present locations within the valley. The whole structure was conceived to be spread out on a series of levels with a water feature that traced the old route of the now vanished north Tyne river meandering the the course and eventually disappearing under a stone built ‘dam’ feature. Bright finishes and colours were used throughout to reference the mapping graphics that it was derived from. A key part of the artist’s concept was that visitors would be able to play the course in any way that they wished, constructing their own pathways using the start and finish options available, creating an infinite number of more or less challenging routes to suit their skill level. Of course this non-linear approach was always going to require negotiation with other users about the overlapping use of the space, and this need for communication between players was another part of the project that interested the artist. Mapping is a fully accessible, highly visual and entertaining ‘must-play’ experience for all visitors.

Wolfgang Weileder was born in Munich, Germany in 1965. Upon completing a degree at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich in the mid 90’s, he pursued his studies at the School of Visual Arts in New York. He moved to Newcastle upon Tyne, UK in 2000 where he currently works as the Professor in Contemporary Sculpture at Newcastle University. Wolfgang Weileder’s recent work is primarily concerned with the exploration and critical deconstruction of architecture, public spaces and the interactions we have with the ubiquitous urban environment. Focusing on large-scale temporary site-specific architectural installation and sculpture in the urban environment his work also branches into performance, film, photography and sound installation.

Kielder Waterside is also home to Play Garden, and a short distance beyond the main centre along the Beeches walk, Julia Barton’s Shadow sculpture.