Sunday 28 September 2014

Verity – what do you see?


 I have just visited Ilfracombe, and discovered Verity, Damien Hirst’s controversial statue dominating, yet fitting in completely at the harbour entrance.

Despite Verity being taller than the well-known Angel of the North, and making big news when she arrived, I had absolutely no idea she was there. We were staying in Ilfracombe because we wanted to be near Woolacombe, scene of many happy holidays. Neighbouring Ilfracombe was the shabby, down at heel Victorian town we had to drive through to get somewhere more appealing. We had a very pleasant surprise to find how much it has changed in recent years. Literally minutes after accidentally having a morning coffee at Damian Hirst’s restaurant, we walked along the harbour wall and Verity came into sight.


I can’t remember the last time a work of art had such an initial impact on me and forced me continue to think about its meaning.

My immediate thoughts were of feminine power and courage; she is heavily pregnant and her sword pushes upwards into the sky to signify bravery and confidence. Then I started to think about the balance of the vulnerability of pregnancy compared to the strength of giving life. She is holding the other symbol of justice, a set of scales behind her back and even better, standing on a foundation of law books. A woman who has it all?



Getting closer, I realised that on one half her flesh is stripped back to reveal her skull, her sinews, her muscles and her unborn child tucked up inside the womb. It was quite overwhelming. As an emergency ambulance was attending the part of the harbour where we could get a full view of her other side, we left it for the moment.

Back at our hotel, I looked her up straight away online and learned that she is an allegory – for truth and justice. I asked a couple of local people we met what they thought and started to learn just how controversial she is. I was intrigued when our hotel proprietor explained that a previous guest from another culture had also had quite a strong reaction to Verity, but quite different to mine. Interestingly, the fact that the scales are behind her back implied hiding from justice. Standing on books showed disrespect for learning, made even worse by her bare feet…



Armed with more knowledge, we returned to view her again the next morning, from every angle - close up, from above her and from the other side of the harbour. What did we see?

A message that truth and justice may sometimes be hidden? May not co-exist overtly?
Or, are the scales behind her back to give her the balance to thrust the sword upwards?

A pregnant woman with skin and flesh peeled back to expose her vulnerability?
Or a powerful woman who is not afraid to expose what lies beneath her skin?

Books as the foundation of knowledge and learning for everybody?
Or, books simply as a way of climbing higher and demonstrating power?

A realistic depiction of the body’s structure and internal systems?
Or a rather grotesque side to the body that we would really rather overlook?

We climbed up to the tiny chapel on Lantern Hill, which is also an ancient lighthouse. The last family to live there in the 1800s had 13 children. Presumably that fact was known to Damien Hirst when he planned Verity and her position? Also, the view from up there is of her skin covered, rather beautiful side. She is after all sharing the stance of and bringing to mind Degas’ Little Dancer of 14 years. Knowing Verity had been the cause of much consternation in the town, I wondered if this choice of aspect was deliberate. Push the boundary, make a controversial statue that will surely make people think, but also bear in mind that if it causes too much offence it won’t get past the planners at the council and will therefore never achieve what you want it to achieve.




I could have looked at her and pondered for hours. So many metaphors and thoughts about parallels with life, work, how we behave with each other, what we show, what we hide etc. but we had to continue our journey. We did stop for a final viewing though, from the other side of the harbour, through the trees. Equally mesmerising, but this time in the context of how she fits in with the whole picture of the harbour. This aspect is of the anatomical side, but from a distance. It is also well signposted…






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