Wednesday 11 February 2009

Political correctness gone mad?


Is the suggestion of scrapping this sculpture crazy?

Is the suggestion that it needs £3 million to make it safe, political correctness gone mad?

Can't we have more dramatic sculptures in our public places?

With Chris Brammall in our midst can't we have more invigorating sculptures in our squares?

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

In what sense is having a basic regard for public safety "political correctness gone mad"?

It should have been made properly in the first place (hence the designer and manufacturer being sued for negligence), rather than forcing the hand of the council to dismantle it.

However good a piece of art it is, it was ultimately a choice between spending £3 million of public money to make it safe, risking someone being killed by a falling 15ft spike or removing it altogether. There was only one reasonable decision and it has been made.

Geoff Dellow said...

Great to have your reaction.

I've only heard the headlines and not the circumstances, so I was merely asking the questions.

Would we have reacted in a similar way if this was in Ulverston - would it not be possible to put a barrier to keep the people safely away?

Will comment further when I've got some 'facts'.

My immediate reaction to the horse is to go down with a hot air balloon and a bucket of paint and scrawl:

"Boring old fart"

What a message to the foreign tourist:

Must be good -

"It's bigger than yours"

Would you favour a model of this horse if it were only six feet tall?

Geoff Dellow said...

I gather Gormley (Angel of the North) also has grave doubts about this decision:

"Gormley's last-ditch plea for B of the Bang

I've got hold of a letter sent by Antony Gormley to councillors ahead of "B-Day" - the decision on the future of B of the Bang tomorrow.

Gormley has already made it clear he is a big supporter of the sculpture.

Here's an extended extract from the letter:

I have strong concerns about the potential removal of the project from the public realm.

B of the Bang has a profile both within and far beyond our shores and the symbolism of its dismantlement, even with the best intentions, should not be underestimated. The example of Manchester, Gateshead and other local authorities have forged a new consciousness of the continued vitality of urban life in Britain and removal would be a very negative message.

B of the Bang is in a wonderful location. It is a main landmark visible from the train journey into the city and is a powerful statement of Manchester’s profile and standing in the world of art and engineering. To remove it from this high profile location seems artistically questionable.

But more than this, my greatest concern is not to lose either practically or financially what has already been gained: taking down a 180 ton sculpture that requires only its spikes to be replaced is a risky and inefficient move, the 7 meter [sic] terminations are all that is in doubt, removing them will retain the sculptures structural integrity while a solution for their replacement is found.

My interest is in seeing B of the Bang retained for future generations and taking it down opens its future up to other external influences - both political and economic - that could prevent it from being rebuilt.

I urge you only to give your approval for it to be taken down, if you are absolutely sure that it will be rebuilt. Otherwise, please support it in its current location, help raise support and funding for the project and allow it to be fixed in the quickest and most efficient way possible and be a project that Manchester can be proud of.

We need to keep faith in the vitality of our cities and the creativity of our citizens.

It is by creating and caring for works like the B of the Bang that this is most powerfully expressed."

http://blogs.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/politics/2009/02/gormleys_lastditch_plea_for_b.html