‘Madonna bra’ sculptures ‘burn people’s hands’
A PUBLIC sculpture consisting of large metal cones has turned black and has burnt people’s hands, residents said during a row over planning permission.
Residents of Farnham said the £20,000 cones had created a “cacophony” by people banging on them and had turned “grey and ugly”.
When they were unveiled at a riverside town centre site in April last year, baffled residents likened the 8ft tall golden cones to “Madonna’s bra” and a “Dalek scrapyard”. The brass artwork has weathered to the point that it resembles “black dented cones”. The effect, which the artists said was deliberate, led to claims it is an “eyesore” that has ruined an attractive green space.
The row erupted in the Surrey market town after it emerged that the council-approved project, titled A Hand’s Turn, did not have planning permission.
The work, which involved Farnham town council, the University for the Creative Arts, the Farnham Maltings arts centre and the Farnham Public Art Trust, was created by artists Natalie Bradwell and Livia Spinolo as “an interactive sculptural installation”.
Iain Lynch, Farnham’s town clerk, applied for retrospective planning permission last month. Residents said they were appalled permission was not sought earlier. In an objection on the Waverley borough council website, resident Penny Marshall said: “No consideration was given to residents who have to look at this eyesore every day.” Christi Daugherty, an author, wrote: “The installation has not been maintained, and there’s no indication that it will be maintained.”
Ms Bradwell from Worthing, West Sussex, said she expected the brass to darken and it “was totally deliberate”.
Not all residents opposed the artwork. Jenny James said: “My children enjoy interacting with it.”
Georgeen Hamming of Colchester, Essex, said the sculptures were “something that catches your eye”, though she understood why locals “may be a bit fed up with it”. Farnham council was contacted for comment.