Art Pete Pete Ashton is (becoming) an artist
The Iron Man’s Back
Anthony Gormley’s Iron: Man sculpture in Birmingham’s Victoria Square is said by the artist to “represent the traditional skills of Birmingham and the Black Country practised during the Industrial Revolution” (according to Wikipedia). It also represents the traditional music of Birmingham and the Black County as practiced by Black Sabbath.
I like the statue though it’s been “controversial”. I put that in quotes because I’ve never heard anyone actually take offense to it – just the usual indifference people feel towards public art that doesn’t strike them. It always seems to me there are people who like public art to be “controversial” to they can fuel their own agendas, be they pro- or anti-art, or simply to sell newspapers.
I do think Gormley’s style is more suited to shipbuilding areas though as evidenced by the Angel of the North‘s success. In my mind Birmingham industry isn’t about welding huge hulks of metal together – it’s more subtle, in a strange way. Or maybe I should shut up about things I don’t know intimately.
I used to rather dislike it tho I confess its grown on me over the years.
The fact that tis hidebound, impotent, immobile, rusting and leaning has always implied to me that it represents industry in a very negative way. Mind you, the “Forward” statue was much more celebratory and I didnt like that much either (grumble, grumble).
Rich