‘Worst-ever’ Prince Philip statue must be torn down, orders council
‘I am not the author of this sculpture, and it is an abuse that they had used my name on it’
A STATUE apparently depicting Prince Philip must be torn down, a council has ruled.
The 13ft abstract figure, depicted in academic robes and mortarboard and known as “The Don”, was erected outside an office block in Cambridge four years ago with a plaque commemorating the late Duke of Edinburgh’s time as chancellor at the university.
However, the £150,000 statue, described by Cambridge city council as the “poorest-quality work ever submitted”, must be removed in the coming months because it was installed without planning permission.
Residents have described it as “kitsch-like” and “detritus masquerading as public art”, Katie Thornburrow, a councillor, said. “Nobody, apart from the wealthy property developer who commissioned it, seems to have a good word to say about it,” she added. The sculpture was commissioned by Unex Group, a property development firm, in 2014 for the grounds of Unex House, an office block on Hills Road in Cambridge.
Pablo Atchugarry, a Uruguayan sculptor named in the application as its creator, later denied he was behind it.
“I am not the author of this sculpture, and it is an abuse that they had used my name on it,” he said.
However, Bill Gredley, the company’s chairman, said at the time: “It’s a spectacular piece of art.”
In the initial application it was described as taking “the form of a Cambridge don or student”, not Prince Philip, but after its installation a plaque commemorating the Duke was placed at its feet which read: “HRH Prince Philip. Duke of Edinburgh. Chancellor. University of Cambridge. 1977-2011.”
Mr Gredley and Mr Atchugarry were approached for comment.