The Alison Lapper statue comes to the end of its tenure on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square next month. Its replacement will be Hotel for the birds by Thomas Schutte. If you live or work in London and you haven't had the chance to look at the statue, it is well worth doing so while there is still time. Sadly Hotel for the Birds does not look that inspiring (but I hope to stand corrected).
Alison Lapper Trafalgar Square
It looks like the birds have already jumped the gun and made this statue an impromptu "Hotel For The Birds," already.
ReplyDeleteHmm that is true, ewbl!
ReplyDeleteI think that pidgeon is giving my review of the statue.
ReplyDeleteI disagree totally Beakerkin. I think it is a striking statue. It is rather incongrous being placed alongside statues of forgotten victorian generals and one of Britain's more derided monarchs (George IV) but it deserves to remain on public display somewhere.
ReplyDeleteVictim as hero... deformity as the new "ideal". Sorry, but I don't go in for sipping at the cup of "upsidasium". Cause all you end up with... is more victims and more deformity.
ReplyDeleteI don't see it that way Farmer John. It certainly shows a woman with phocomelia in a good light (and why not?)and it is a powerful image. Art is everywhere (although not necessaruly good art!) and a person with disabilities is just as valid a subject as any. I seriously doubt it would have the effect you suggest.
ReplyDeleteMy computer crapped out yesterday right when I hit "enter" for my comment.
ReplyDeleteI'm disappointed in some of the reaction to the statue here. By all accounts, Alison Lapper was born with a disability through no fault of her own. Abandoned by all her family, and institutionalized. Did she sit on her arse and wallow in self-pity and play the victimhood card? No. She's a productive citizen that hasn't allowed herself to be limited by the restrictions that her limbless body have imposed. She's worked harder at leading a normal life and contributing to society than a lot of people without physical deficits. She should be lauded for her propogation of a different ideal of beauty, handicaps, and the indomitable human spirit.
Sorry, but somehow I don't see her in the same light as I see "Nelson". The "equivalency" just seems a "bit" out of whack.
ReplyDeleteWell put ewbl.. you have summed up her life well. That does not mean she requires a monument (and the statue is not a monument) but she is just as valid an artistic subject as any. THe sculptor has created somewthing very powerful in my view
ReplyDeleteFarmer John but the statue is not trying to compare with Nelson.. that is like comparing apples and oranges anyway. As I said it is not intended as a monument a monument. It will be going from Trafalgar Square fairly soon anyway
The "style" of the piece argues against you jams. The "artists" certainly intended his piece to be "monumental".
ReplyDeleteThey ought to ship it off to Norway when they put up the Mayor of London's next "monument" to modernity.
ReplyDeleteCertainly not. It should stay in the UK. I am sure that there will be plenty of galleries that will want it.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the day I like this sculpture. There is a lot of contemporary art that does nothing for me. This piece does.
That's only because the "subject" may be modern, but the "style" isn't modern at all, it's neo-classical.
ReplyDeleteAs regards style I agree.
ReplyDeleteOooh I missed the debate. :( Actually, what I typed out wasn't nearly all the thoughts I had had that was lost the day before when the computer snapped off. Sometimes I have it. Most of the time, I don't!
ReplyDeleteI didn't think that the statue was intended as a shrine in any way. Just a statue to mark and honor a notable and remarkable figure. I'm a mom. Raising kids with all limbs intact is an arduous task in and of itself. Maybe that's why I'm so taken with Alison Lapper's story?
Statue or no statue Alison Lapper is one of those people who makes me wonder why I complain about trivia.She is quite an inspirational character
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