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.
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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