‘Ugly’ response to new sculpture

PETITION CALLS FOR ANGEL ARTIST’S NEW WORK TO GO

Reporter A NEW sculpture by acclaimed artist Sir Antony Gormley has now gone on display in Newcastle – but not everyone is happy about it.

‘Clasp,’ created by the man behind the Angel of the North, is currently on loan to Newcastle University and has been installed on King’s Walk, between the students’ union building and Northern Stage.

But much like the Angel itself, the sculpture has proved controversial with some people.

One student has even launched a petition to remove Clasp from the campus, branding it a “weird thing” and “a piece of driftwood”.

The change.org petition claims the sculpture “has ruined the aesthetic of the campus”.

Among more than 100 signatures added since it was set up on Monday night were comments accusing it of looking “ugly” and “horrible”.

Clasp is the latest addition to Newcastle University’s Art on Campus programme which aims to showcase art by leading artists, as well as graduates, students and staff from the university.

The 4.5-metre-high cast-iron sculpture is a representation of two bodies holding each other and is part of the artist’s Blockwork series.

The new sculpture is made of 18 individual blocks and cast as one single element in spheroidal graphite iron.

The idea is that the surface colour will naturally evolve over time as “an organic response to environmental conditions”, gradually transforming from a grey appearance into a red oxidised finish.

Best known in the North East for the Angel of the North in Gateshead, Sir Antony was awarded the Turner Prize in 1994 and the South Bank Prize for Visual Art in 1999.

Clare Rogers, director of estates at Newcastle University, said: “It is very fitting that in the 20th anniversary year of the Angel of the North, we have the opportunity to host a sculpture by Sir Antony on campus.”

Although now a much-loved symbol of the North East, the Angel of the North met with furious opposition from some sections of the public before its installation in 1998.

There was a Stop the Statue campaign and headlines from the time included ‘Hells Angel?,’ ‘Plane Stupid!,’ ‘The Angel With A Dirty Face’ and even ‘Art Angel A Figure Of Doom.’

Newcastle University has been contacted for a comment in relation to the petition.