In July 2006, Maurice Agis's large, inflatable structure Dreamspace broke free from its moorings, floated into the air, flipped ove and crashed to the groud in Riverside Park, Newcastle. Two women died in the incident and 26 were injured. Following the incident Durham Police seized the remnants of the art piece and Agis was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.
Dreamspace involves visitors removing their shoes, donning capes and wandering around inflated walkways to specially compsed music and sounds. His works are meant to be "three-directional" and normally involve human movement and interactivity.
Prosecutor, Paul Sloan QC, told the jury: "The defendant is guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence." He accused Agis of failing to act on warnings that the structure was beginning to lift in the air or to conduct a proper risk assessment of the artwork. "In failing to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, that the structure was properly designed and anchored, the defendant was in breach of the duty of care he owed the deceased," Sloan said.
Hailing from Bethnal Green, Agis denies two charges of manslaughter and a breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act by failing to ensure the safety of employees.
The trial continues.
