UK: Damien Hirst's controversial 'Verity' statue arrives at British seaside town, Ilfracombe

Record ID: 625732

  • Title: UK: Damien Hirst's controversial 'Verity' statue arrives at British seaside town, Ilfracombe
  • Date: 17th October 2012
  • Summary: ILFRACOMBE, DEVON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (OCTOBER 16, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF VERITY STATUE BEING ERECTED ON ILFRACOMBE SEAFRONT ONLOOKERS ON PIER WATCHING STATUE BEING ERECTED VIEW OF BEACH MOORED BOATS IN BAY CAR DRIVING THROUGH HIGH STREET MAYOR OF ILFRACOMBE LYNDA COURTNADGE SPEAKING TO WOMEN SITTING ON BENCH (SOUNDBITE) (English) LYNDA COURTNADGE, MAYOR OF ILFRACOMBE, SAYING: "Damien Hirst lives nearby in the village of Combe Martin and he has a restaurant in Ilfracombe and other properties in and around the area. And he obviously has a great affection for Ilfracombe. He frequently socializes in the town, and he obviously wanted somewhere special to site his statue. It's on loan to us and we are very very pleased to have it with us." VIEW OF CLIFFS ALONG COASTLINE BARBARA FRYER TAKING PICTURES (SOUNDBITE) (English) BARBARA FRYER, LOCAL, SAYING: "I think it's a pity and a lost opportunity because it's a harbour, it's a fishing harbour of the marine heritage and it would be so much nicer if it was a maritime statue rather than a statue of a woman with half a foetus hanging out which must be horrendous to the people overlooking the harbour from their houses. I can't really see how it's going to attract tourism." WORKERS FASTENING VERITY STATUE INTO THE GROUND (SOUNDBITE) (English) ALYSSIA MASON, LOCAL, SAYING: "I think it's really nice. It's a lot more beautiful than I expected. It is gorgeous. Job well done Damien Hirst. " MORE OF VERITY STATUE BEING ERECTED (SOUNDBITE) (English) JENNY HARRIS, LOCAL RESIDENT, SAYING: "It's not the prettiest thing I've seen but it's fine. It's good." (SOUNDBITE) (English) ANDY OWNSWORTH, LOCAL RESIDENT, SAYING: "Ya, I think it's quite a striking statue. I'm just waiting for the first seagull to land on it, get the first photograph. Ya, but on the whole I think it's good for Ilfracombe, and I'm looking forward to seeing it lit up at night as well." PEOPLE LOOKING ON (SOUNDBITE) (English) BELINDA BARTEN, LOCAL RESIDENT, SAYING: "It's absolutely fantastic. It really is the best thing that's come to North Devon I think. It's gonna do so much for this place, it really is good. And all those people that doubt it I really I don't understand them because it really is fantastic." PAN FROM WOMB TO FACE OF VERITY STATUE VIEW OF SEAFRONT / PIER WITH VERITY SECURED BY SAFETY BELTS ATTACHED TO A CRANE
  • Embargoed: 1st November 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Arts
  • Reuters ID: LVACF3SN4FU90MJ5TP37ZZX6F0GN
  • Story Text: Damien Hirst's statue of a pregnant woman was officially unveiled on Tuesday (October 16) in a seaside town in the county of Devon, 200 miles south-west of London, but like many of the artist's works, it hasn't been without controversy.
    His 65ft (20m) bronze sculpture of a pregnant woman called Verity was erected by crane onto Ilfracombe's pier.
    Hundreds of residents came out to catch their first glimpse of the work, which will take more than a week to fully assemble.
    "Damien Hirst lives nearby in the village of Combe Martin and he has a restaurant in Ilfracombe and other properties in and around the area. And he obviously has a great affection for Ilfracombe. He frequently socializes in the town, and he obviously wanted somewhere special to site his statue. It's on loan to us and we are very very pleased to have it with us," said Mayor of Ilfracombe Lynda Courtnadge.
    But not everyone is full of praise for the artwork. The statue has attracted some adverse comment because it shows the inner workings of human pregnancy. She also wields a sword and the artist has described her as a modern day allegory of truth and justice.
    "I think it's a pity and a lost opportunity because it's a harbour, it's a fishing harbour of the marine heritage and it would be so much nicer if it was a maritime statue rather than a statue of a woman with half a foetus hanging out which must be horrendous to the people overlooking the harbour from their houses. I can't really see how it's going to attract tourism," said local resident Barbara Fryer.
    Dozens of residents have written to the local council to object, with one claiming it would "encourage teenage pregnancies".
    However most of the local onlookers who came to watch the town's latest addition being erected didn't seem too displeased about what they saw.
    "I think it's really nice. It's a lot more beautiful than I expected. It is gorgeous. Job well done Damien Hirst," said local Alyssia Mason.
    "It's not the prettiest thing I've seen but it's fine. It's good," said Jenny Harris, another local, said.
    Local councillors insist the statue will boost tourism and improve the town's image.
    But whether people like it or loathe it, locals will be the custodians of the giant sculpture for the next two decades.
    The artist himself was not immediately available for comment on the controversy.
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