A statue depicting Shakespeare’s tragic heroine Ophelia has been slammed as ‘tone deaf’ and ‘insensitive’.
Jason deCaires Taylor, 50, created the sculpture – which is made from recycled glass, metal and LED lights – and put in it within the River Stour in Canterbury.
Dubbed ‘The Alluvia’, the white sculpture reveals a lady mendacity along with her eyes shut, with varied flowers adorning her chest.
Taylor advised Sky: ‘I don’t attempt of my paintings to divide folks or trigger upset. However I do attempt to discuss points which are pertinent and related to our present occasions.’
After the sculpture was shared on Canterbury Metropolis Council’s Fb web page, it sparked furor, with some claiming the sculpture seems to be like a drowned girl.
One wrote: ‘How did the council not see the hyperlink to ladies as victims of crime or the unhappy reality so many drown off the Kent coast as refugees?’
Taylor stated there is no such thing as a connection between his statue and the tragic drownings off the coast of Kent – however welcomed the outpouring of empathy for what’s occurred within the channel.
He added: ‘I used to be shocked… 99.9% of all of the suggestions that I’ve acquired has been very constructive… However on the identical time, I admire everyone takes one thing completely different from all the pieces they see.
‘It’s an especially tragic scenario, and I don’t assume ignoring it’s the resolution. If [this work] can foster any type of care and sympathy for that scenario, then I feel that’s a very good factor.’
Beforehand, Taylor’s work has drawn consideration to political points together with Brexit and migration – however he stated this sculpture was not meant to be political.
The girl within the sculpture was meant to signify Ophelia, as seen in Sir John Everett Millais’s well-known portray, ‘Ophelia’.
The Chair of Canterbury Commemoration Society Stewart Ross stated: ‘Some folks discover it offensive and stunning, we’ve no objection to that. All public artwork is open to dialogue.’
Talking about requires the work to be eliminated, he in contrast it to the destruction of artwork throughout the Reformation, including: ‘I really feel strongly about this [call for censorship]. It’s what the Taliban do. Should you don’t prefer it, don’t look.’
‘Folks have been evaluating it to a useless physique, however I’ve but to satisfy a useless physique that lights up within the night time.’
Get in contact with our information workforce by emailing us at [email protected].
For extra tales like this, examine our information web page.
MORE : Market city’s artwork gallery in sizzling water over very fruity window show
MORE : ‘I gave David Bowie mismatched eyes in a battle – he knew he was within the mistaken’
MORE : ‘I gave David Bowie mismatched eyes in a battle – he knew he was within the mistaken’
Get your need-to-know
newest information, feel-good tales, evaluation and extra
This web site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privateness Coverage and Phrases of Service apply.