What Do We Do With The Henry Moore?
Tower Hamlets council have a problem about what to do with a Henry Moore sculpture that they own. It’s all here on the BBC.
In some ways, the problem has been brought on, by the success of public statues. Look at most big stations these days and they have large sculptures. St. Pancras has two. So there are a lot of them about and because many are made from valuable bronze, they are just too tempting for thieves. But I’ve never heard of one being nicked in even a moderately-sized railway station, as the security is just too high. Or even it actually isn’t high, railway stations tend to be busy places with a good mobile phone signal and someone would probably call the police.
So perhaps, one of the first places to place a valuable statue is in a suitable railway station. but there are only four stations in Tower Hamlets. Only Shoreditch High Street station would probably be large enough. But it would probably be impossible to place a very heavy sculpture now, the station is built.
So it’s a real problem.
A practical idea might be to keep it indoors in a special museum, paid for by the money, that would otherwise be used for insurance. I have a feeling that some of the famous statues in Florence and other places in Italy have been moved indoors, not to protect them from vandals and thieves but the weather. This happened to Michaelangelo’s statue of David.
But whatever happens, we must make sure it is not stolen and melted down.
Whoosh At Langdon Park
I stopped yesterday at Langdon Park DLR station to take pictures of the so-called Whoosh sculpture.
I couldn’t find any details of who designed and made it, at the station. I shall go back for a look. I found nothing on return, but there is a bit here.
I aways think that works of art should be acknowledged. When I went to see England play in Belarus, Minsk was full of unattributed modern statues. But that’s communism for you! Someone who is very good, might get some credit for it, when it should all go to the leader.
The Superlambanana With Bling
This superlambanana was outside a jewellers.
The Superlambanana With Bling
Although they are really leftovers from the European Capital of Culture in 2008, you still see them in odd places around the city.
And Now The Bouncy Bus
The Czech House is at the Angel and this bus is outside.
It is an interesting piece of engineering art by David Cerny. I like it a lot better than some of his other works.
I suspect some fans of Bristol buses will find it sacrilege.
What Do You Think of it So Far, Ma’am?
Queen Victoria surveys the scene from Derby Square.
What Do You Think of it So Far, Ma’am?
There is also another statue of Queen Victoria, in Liverpool City Centre. It is outside St. George’s Hall and she is portrayed riding side-saddle. How many of our Queens could do that? Queen Elizabeth used to do in public regularly, and Queen Victoria is in the statue, but could she actually do it?
I suspect her Jubilee wasn’t as manic and of course the Olympics were a few years later.
Robert Comes Home
I like to see old engines and other pieces of industrial history displayed at places like stations.
Robert has now been put back at Stratford station and as you casn see from the picture, it has a proper information board.
Some might have commissioned an expensive sculpture, but surely old engines like this are cheaper and just as interesting.
Sir Anthony Caro and Dave Pearson
After I’d seen the work of Dave Pearson, I went to Canary Wharf and took some more pictures of the sculpture by Anthony Caro. So I’d seen two extensive exhibitions for the princely sum of nothing. As I have a Freedom Pass, I didn’t even pay for the travel to get there. I did buy my lunch, but then I didn’t want to starve.
The cost is one of the great things about art and scupture in the UK and that it is nearly always free. I’m particularly keen on street sculpture, like the characters on Brixton station. That is unless it gets nicked like the good Doctor Salter.
Anthony Caro At Canary Wharf
Jubilee Park in Canary Wharf is being used this summer for a series of sculpture exhibitions. The first is of Anthony Caro’s work.
I wonder how many sculpture exhibitions are held on the roof of a station.
Charlotte Rampling and Elizabeth Frink
There was a piece in the Times yesterday about Charlotte Rampling and how at 66, she is still finding good parts. The article mentions her father, Godfrey, as an Army officer, but he was more than that. He was a superb athlete, winning gold in the 1936 Olympics and died three years ago at 100.
Charlotte was born in one of the villages surrounding Haverhill in Suffolk. As was Elisabeth Frink, one of our finest sculptors.
There must be something in the water.
The ArcelorMittal Orbit Is Now At Full Height
I took this picture of the ArcelorMittal Orbit on Saturday from the train to Ipswich.
The ArcelorMittal Orbit at Full Height
I think it’s now at its full height.
The Anonymous Widower 