Wow!
www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19881524
I had no idea this was going up in Ilfracombe! Anyone live there or know it?
It's worked for me, I might actually go there now next time I'm in the West Country (and buy a cup of tea, a fish & chips or hotel accom ie put some money into the local economy), and it'd be for the first time. Even though the place seems more than a bit rough in the BBC report. I love the woman saying "We've got enough pregnant women in this town already". It all reads like an episode of Shameless, with fish!
btw I think Hirst is an appalling artist and it's a very poor sculpture**. But that's not the point. It's not permanent, it can always be removed, it's only a loan anyway. I went to Damien Hirst's exhibition recently at Tate Modern and it was garbage, imo. I couldn't wait to get out. He's a brilliant self-publicist, hence the absurd diamond-encrusted skull (made by Hatton Garden craftsmen, he can't actually make any of this stuff!) No doubt this giant figure is more self-publicity. You can always shut your eyes as you walk past it if you don't like it.
But should the Council have given it planning permission? I say a big Yes.
** of course it would be great if all public sculpture was of the standard of Michelangelo's David or of Barbara Hepworth or Alexander Calder. But this is the real world. And there was an article (in the Guardian?) about why all recent public art in this country is cr@p and always will be. Dancing to too many irreconcilable tunes. Prompted by the cancellation of Mark Wallinger's White Horse project in Ebbsfleet, Kent.
** many thanks, Professor Google, here's the Wallinger article:
www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2011/jul/05/public-art-cannot-be-good-art
Now that would indeed have been a superb piece, imo. His work I saw recently at the Baltic in Newcastle was thrilling, wonderful, bliss!
*
Here are some of the public sculptures we have/have to endure round here (a-f) for any of your thoughts or comments and four from London, all of which I adore, especially (j). I'll say now that (a) in Loughborough is massively popular with everyone I hear speak about it, so that must rate it a success ..... mustn't it? Humour seems to help. The Oadby one, (d), has always been a total mystery to me. What it is and even why it is! I think it's something to do with the local textile industry and it's supposed to help give Oadby some identity, heehee ... it's not worked on that score then:
a) empedia.info/resource/124?set=empedia%3Amaps%2F7
b) www.flickr.com/photos/historyanorak/3034691604/
c) www.leicester.gov.uk/your-council-services/lc/growth-and-history/statuesandsculpture/southafricanwarmemorial/
d) www.flickr.com/photos/mistdog/6110773982/
e) www.crosbyheritage.co.uk/location/leicester/thomas-cook-statue/
f) www.leicester.gov.uk/your-council-services/lc/growth-and-history/statuesandsculpture/seamstress/
g) www.flickr.com/photos/normko/1338558748/
h) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ArcelorMittal_Orbit
i) www.timeout.com/london/art/event/56072/anish-kapoor
j) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sculpture_Of_Boy_With_A_Dolphin-Chelsea.JPG
. I agree; the other one is horrid. We were in Cornwall when Betjeman was buried at the church in the sand at Trebetherick. He and Dan Cruickshank were instrumental in saving Spitalfields from the developpers as well, were they not?
