The project 'Place of Origin' began at Kemnay in 1996 as part of the celebration of 150 years of the granite firm John Fyfe. It acknowledges the importance of the industry and marks the early development of the village around the quarry. But the title also refers to the widespread distribution of granite products from Kemnay, and the influence of Scottish stoneworkers and their skills in many parts of the world.
The three artists John Maine, Glen Onwin and Brad Goldberg chose to make the landscape into an artwork rather than to place individual pieces of sculpture near the quarry. Coming from Salisbury, Edinburgh and Dallas, Texas, they met at regular intervals to work together at Kemnay where they were advised by the engineer John Harrison of Inverurie. Archaeologists, geologists, local historians and construction workers have all influenced the design. The plan for Paradise Hill allowed for creative interpretation, and sensitivity to details. The woodland will complete the composition.
100 thousand tons of granular materials have been deposited to create a vantage point, overlooking the quarry. The massive granite construction at the summit is built in the traditional way that quarry walls and ramps have been made here for centuries. Paths of crushed granite lead to a high platform, contained by quarried blocks, many still showing the drill marks where they have been split. At the top of the ramp is a giant boulder extracted from a nearby sand pit. This has been rubbed smooth by the action of glaciers. The smaller black cubes set below are from India.