Home is where the art is

The Garden of England is littered with sculptures, murals and reliefs which aim to hark back to the area’s past or highlight a town’s culture. Many of us walk past them without thinking, but reporter Charlie Harman has been taking a look into the origins and meanings of some of Kent’s best known public artworks. Folkestone

Antony Gormley’s person by the sea

Thanks to the highly popular Folkestone Triennial, an ongoing permanent public art exhibition, there are allegedly 45 works on display yearround in the town.

The event has previously seen pieces turn up by Yoko Ono, Tracey Emin and even Banksy.

Perhaps the most eyecatching and well-known work currently on display is sculptor Antony Gormley’s Another Time XVIII.

It consists of a solid cast-iron figure looking out to sea. Created in 2013 by the Angel of the North artist, it is sited underneath the Folkestone Harbour Arm.

Two iron men were loaned to the town for the 2017 Triennial, with another going to Margate.

While the other can be found at nearby Sunny Sands, the odd location of the former makes for a stunning photo opportunity. Folkestone’s two sculptures are part of a series of 100 dispersed throughout the world.

According to Creative Folkestone, Mr Gormley intends them to ‘bear witness to what it is like to be alive and alone in space and time’ and to ‘celebrate the still and silent nature of sculpture’.

“The work is designed to be placed within the flow of lived time.’ - all three figures stand within the ebb and flow of the tide, at times partly inundated.”

Ashford

The Bolt

A recognisable sight for those driving around Ashford’s ring road, the Bolt Roundabout - or Notaroundabout as it’s officially called - marks the start of the ‘shared space’ Elwick Road.

Installed in 2008 and designed by John Atkin, it has proved highly controversial. Many don’t understand the meaning - that it harkens back to Ashford’s rail heritage - or recognise it as a bolt, with suggestions that it looks more like a screw or nut. Others dislike the material, corten steel, which is purposefully left to rust. In 2016, Mr Atkin cleared up his creation’s concept saying: “I chose corten steel because of its industrial connotations, which reflected on the longstanding railway connections to the area.

“The rim of stainless steel acts as both a reflector strip and also a celebratory bright feature emerging from the history of industry.

“The use of corten is that it weathers to a particular hue of rust depending on the atmospheric conditions it is placed in. The intention is never to paint it.

“The rest of the Notaroundabout design, and nearby terraces, reference intersecting cogs using Breccia Paving and Porphyry Stone.

“This refers to several industries, but most notably that of cycling.”

This came after an artist proposed adding a giant screwdriver to the top to emphasise what the structure was supposed to be.

It is re-decorated seasonally, with temporary re-vamps during Halloween and Christmas.

Many of Ashford’s roundabouts contain public art, including cows at the infamous Drover’s roundabout and a number of creations by the mysterious ‘Roundabout Banksy’.

Canterbury

The Marlowe Theatre face

Despite being one of the most recognisable images in the Canterbury, few people know why the Marlowe Theatre has a giant face opposite its entrance.

Called ‘Bulkhead’, it was designed by Gillingham-born sculptor Rick Kirby as part of a 2003 sculpture festival called Blok.

Canterbury City Council then bought the popular statue, which was moved to the Military Road council offices in 2009 but re-erected in 2011 when the newly revamped theatre opened. Bulkhead is based off the famous Christopher Marlowe phrase: “the face that launch’d a thousand ships”.

It was constructed using scrap metal recovered from ships along the Kentish coast, living up to the line it was based on.

Maidstone

Bomb disposal expert

Brenchley Gardens in Maidstone is the location of a statue unique in Britain, if not the world.

The life-size bronze sculpture of a bomb disposal expert was unveiled in 2011, commemorating the lives lost during the war in Afghanistan. Depicting the soldier returning to base following a successful mission, the project was completed through public funding which saw £35,000 raised.

The Kent Messenger led calls in 2010 for a statue as a tribute to the long association 36 Engineer Regiment has had with the town. Maidstone had lost five soldiers in Afghanistan between 2007 and 2010. Sculptor Mary Cox was commissioned for the work and made sketches from real life when she visited Invicta Barracks.

Placed atop a stone plinth,

the statue was unveiled by Lt Col Simon Hulme in front of dignitaries, VIPS and members of the 36 Engineer Regiment.

Dover

Banksy mural

One of only two confirmed Banksy works in Kent, Dover made headlines worldwide when the huge EU mural went up overnight.

Typical of the elusive artist, the detailed design was highly political and well-timed coming during the height of Brexit fervour in 2017.

The wall by the York Street roundabout was daubed with the image of a workman chiselling out a star from the European Union flag - a comment on the then omnipresent Brexit debate.

One expert valued the gigantic piece at £1million, despite the expensive and arduous effort it would take to remove, transport and store it. However such a plan will never come to fruition after it was painted over, sparking outrage among residents and art fans alike.

The mysterious Bristolian responded afterwards on Instagram, saying he was going to change the piece on the day Britain left the EU, “but it seems they’ve painted over it.

“Never mind. I guess a big white flag says it just as well.” There are hopes the work can be salvaged and restored, with one expert valuing the work at £20 million despite the whitewashing.

Dartford

One Town That Changed The World mural

A supersized mural on Dartford’s High Street is not only catches attention, but details 25 different facets of the area’s history. Designed by international artist Gary Drostle and painted by Drostle and Rob Turner in 2000, important industrial and historical moments are captured in high detail. This includes Sir John Spilman, whose 1588-built Dartford paper factory was the first commercially successful paper-mill in England. Also featured is the Vickers Vimy engine, highlighting the Dartford Salt Marshes’ role as a test site for the famous plane which was used for the first non-stop transatlantic flight.

West Malling

King’s Hill airman

The garden village of King’s Hill is crammed with sculptures and statues, but perhaps the most poignant harks back to the location’s wartime past.

Built on the site of RAF West Malling, King’s Hill recognised this heritage in 2002 by placing the statue of an airman on the spot where the runway was. Designed by Tonbridgebased artist Guy Portelli, the Hillreed Homes-commissioned piece features a running airman - Group Captain Peter Townsend.

Known for his romance with Princess Margaret, GC Townsend is believed to have downed the first German aircraft over England. He earned the DFC and bar, and later the DSO.

The sculpture’s inscription reads: “In recognition of Group Captain Peter Townsend and all the brave airmen who served their country from West Malling Airfield during World War II.

“This memorial marks the site of the runway, which was operational between 1908 to 1994.

“The West Malling RAF motto is ‘We guard the gate.’ We thank them all for their dedication and our freedom today.”

Gravesend

Pocahontas mural

An eye-catching mural in Gravesend celebrates possibly the town’s most famous inhabitant, Pocahontas. The native American, given the Disney treatment in 1995, famously saved the life of English explorer John Rolfe before returning to England with him as his wife.

She died in Gravesend at the age of 22 and was buried at the town’s St George Church on March 21, 1617.

In November, a fence was emblazoned with a modern graffiti-style design commemorating her connection to the town. Created by 1717 Alliance based in the town - the mural can be seen on Queen Street.

Chatham

The Mariners, St Mary’s Island

Commissioned to mark the Millennium, Sam Holland’s giant statue - entitled The Mariners - is an eye-catching celebration of Medway’s maritime heritage.

Made of bronze, steel and concrete, the 35ft-high sculpture features a ‘Jack Tar’ seaman opposite a bronze female sailor.

The centrepiece of the creation is a mast and billowing sail, both made of steel. The statue was created using money from local residents and businesses, and was one of the early successes of the Medway Sculpture Trust.