Anthony Gormley should get over himself: Crosby beach statues are there to be enjoyed
Britain is replete of big ornaments, keepsakes and statues. Anthony Gormley made a few more and stuck his life-sized iron men statues into the sand at Crosby beach on Merseyside. Now someone’s gone and decorated them in bright bikinis and shirts with slogans like ‘This is Art’.
Gormley wants the paint removed. He says the painting is vandalism.
I’d argue that his statues modelled on Gormleys own body are worse. Who asked for them to be there? But since they are why not embellish them? And they look good, don’t they. The sinister grey lunks now carry a spot of seaside fun. It can’t be long before someone goes full gadabout Stag and Hen do and augments them with knobs and knockers. Ah, they have. The art world is nothing if not fast moving.
@ysgolbryncoch Crosby Beach “another place” Anthony Gormley. pic.twitter.com/SPYq6EQ4Ze
— Katy Parry (@EWANTHEBRAVE) April 22, 2017
#anthonygormley statues defaced – or bettered? pic.twitter.com/mhrJN6EQXW
— Kingmakershaker (@Kingmakershaker) June 22, 2017
I understand Gormley’s cheesed off that his work has been subverted. But what his public work means is not set in stone, whatever he initially intended. Is it really art now it’s been updated? Dunno. What does it matter to you if it is or isn’t? Maybe better next time to make it very big or stick the statues on plinths, thereby reminding the great unwashed to look up at art and see it as something better than you. Of course, if the officials do remove the paint the statues become memorials to crowd control and conformity, which would be very fitting for our age.
Posted: 23rd, June 2017 | In: Celebrities, News Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
