Ilfracombe. Angel of the West? - Public Art

I rather like it! It's much better than his usual efforts!

Pregnant woman, yes. Physiological model, yes. Art? No.

I'm afraid I don't like it.

Thanks for the links, isthisall. I did find The Angel of the North strangely impressive. I agree most modern art makes me want to sing 'The King is in the altogether.....'
My daughters visited a chapel near St. Paul de Vence when they were in their mid-teens. It had been decorated by Matisse. It was full of Americans being very respectful.. One of my girls said very loudly 'What vandal did this graffiti?' and a lot of the other visitors burst out laughing.

Ouch greatnan! I loved my visit to that Matisse chapel. Though I wouldn't call it public art really, I think it was a commission for a religious order of Dominican nuns. He called it his "masterpiece".

It's healthy to laugh at works of art. But if you then remember them (as you've clearly done in this case), they've worked!

I think it`s horrible, should be in an art gallery, not on the quayside in lovely old Ilfracombe.

No one will ever better The Angel of the North. No matter how many times I see it, I still feel it welcome me as I travel oop north. It works on so many different levels and represents so many different things. I didn't like the Oadby one,and the Anish Kapoor looked like a satellite dish, but it seems to change with the light so I'd quite like to see it. The boy with the dolphin was beautiful, but I did want to put a loin cloth on him [the boy that is]. Not for decencies sake but because he looked painfully vulnerable in an 'ouch' sort of way.

That 'Angel of the North' is weird... reminiscent of a pre-war Meccano kit for making aeroplane models.

I'm staying in the South, I think.

I have had some disappointments with famous works of art. Mona Lisa simpers, Sunflowers is over-rated and the Mannikin Pis is insignificant.

I like the 'Angel of the North' it is so cleverly designed. Its open to so many interpretations. This thing they are imposing on Ilfracombe looks horrible, its ugly and looks more like a giant teaching aid.

feetlebaum; have you see 'The Angel' in the flesh [as it were]? Mona Lisa is a tiny bit..tiny.

I'm naturally loyal to the "Angel of the North" living in the area and driving past it on many occasions, I'm afraid I can't agree with feetlebaum but maybe that's because I'm a Northerner!!

"It is one of the most viewed pieces of art in the world - seen by more than one person every second, 90,000 every day or 33 million every year" according to Gateshead Council.

I'm all in favour of public art, the more art is accessible and not tucked away in galleries and museums the better.

I think it's in the perfect position as well..you just sort of go round a bend and there it is, towering over you. I feel all protected by it and lose that protection when I venture south again. It was also many years before I actually saw it and was overwhelmed when I did. I think, with a work of art, that stays with you. I'd also read about his little clay figures [I had a newspaper cutting of them on my notice board on which I'd written 'bad hair day'] so I was interested in the artist already.

Sorry to be a dissenter, but I don`t like the Angel of the North either, and, yes, I have seen it "in the flesh", several times. Now, if the Boy David was up there.............!

Bit grisly. I am not averse to Gormley (see the photo on my profile on GN) but am unconvinced by Hirst.

Yes, I've seen that . Art has to be natural. I always feel that Hirst is 'trying' to be whatever he is. And not succeeding [except financially].

I don't like it but I can't really say why.

I think it might be because it is too big for the setting. Which I don't get either. I don't dislike the subject matter but I think it would appeal to me more if it was life sized.

Mind you I am not very much of an expert.

On reflection it's like an extension of his 'stuff in formaldehyde' [with it showing the inside of her body, I mean]. There's something of the laboratory about it. But I wouldn't like it if it was fully skinned either; oh that means the opposite of what I mean. And what's with the sword? POGS; you are talking about the pregnant lady not the Angel?

The best remark about the pregnant woman statue in Ilfracombe came from a man who was interviewed on the news....'What happens when her waters break?'

I think it's awful.

crimson

Sorry, yes the pregnant woman.

I was imagining a very very very tiny Angel of the North! Possibly standing next to the sign for Shilbottle on the A1 [y'know the one that someone keeps putting a 't' in the middle of].

Oh, and as I'm totally putting off doing anything tonight; talking of iconic monuments does anyone remember the wonderful camel on the right hand side of the motorway going down to Cornwall? It was joined by a Sphinx one year. Now that WAS wonderful. Hope it's still there. Better than anything the Hirst guy has ever done.

Next to the M5 heading for Cornwall, on the Somerset levels, there was a glorious woven Wicker Man. Made of living willow strands. Dumpy and memorable.

What sort of country do we live in?? Some vandals burnt it down! How they set fire to living willow I don't know. Maybe they doused it in petrol.

I understand that it's now been remade. With a protective moat around it. I'm sure someone who lives near there will gently correct my version. Please do!