H'boro memorial statue

[davek]

Sorry but I think you are all being very unfair to the artist, he is simple trying to capture the tragedy.............that said we are all very aware of the horror hence his choice is flawed. I feel certain his commission must have laid down parameters for his design, they normally do, a less dramatic, more reserved design would have been preferable

Possibly. As I said above, others (*responsible* office holders) would have looked at the draft for the model and given it the go ahead. They should have reined it in.

As for the work itself, it might have merit, but it's about the passage of time as much as anything else. You see the Tom Murphy staircase statue at St Nicholas Church and it's equally as evocotive of the May Blitz on Liverpool and the deaths resulting from it. But that was erected 60 years after the events when emotions weren't as raw. Twenty years is nothing in this instance. The families are still very much in mourning. Time passing is the only thing that'll turn what now is the macabre into something fitting.

 

[Bluelass]

why can't people be left to rest in peace? We have all lost loved ones one way or another, be it through illness or war or just being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
We can't all have constant reminders or monuments to those we have lost otherwise the country would be carpeted with memorials.

Why is my loss less worthy of anyone else's?
Sorry if it sounds harsh but surely the time to move on and remember with dignity and sorrow has been reached. It was a terrible tragedy but do the families really need this sort of memorial to keep the memories of their loved ones alive?

 

[McBain]

Got to be honest, that statue is horrific.

Scary looking thing.

 

[monty]

Possibly. As I said above, others (*responsible* office holders) would have looked at the draft for the model and given it the go ahead. They should have reined it in.

As for the work itself, it might have merit, but it's about the passage of time as much as anything else. You see the Tom Murphy staircase statue at St Nicholas Church and it's equally as evocotive of the May Blitz on Liverpool and the deaths resulting from it. But that was erected 60 years after the events when emotions weren't as raw. Twenty years is nothing in this instance. The families are still very much in mourning. Time passing is the only thing that'll turn what now is the macabre into something fitting.

I agree with what you say Dave but I would guess the artist has tried for a 'Arthur Dooley' style work................it is obviously wrong but he has captured what he set out to do

 

[coyney]

While I would not dream of telling them what to do,I dont rate this one and feel they deserve better

 

[monty]

While I would not dream of telling them what to do,I dont rate this one and feel they deserve better

I know what you mean mate but I do think Bluelass has a very valid point, I know one or two relatives of those who died get very upset by the mere mention of the place they just want it to pass into history. I wonder if they ever thought of renaming Hillsboro

 

[linglong]

Thats one godawful statue..jesus why cant they just have something nice and simple similar to whats at Anfield.

 

[davek]

I agree with what you say Dave but I would guess the artist has tried for a 'Arthur Dooley' style work................it is obviously wrong but he has captured what he set out to do

Agreed. Ultimately this is the fault of those who commissioned it. They may have had their hearts in the right place, but they have no commonsense whatsoever.

 

[neville]

I think this fella in the comments nails it :

This is an appalling piece of work. Shocking, graphic and inappropriate.

Would the partly burned remains of a Holocaust victim inside an oven at a death camp be acceptable? I think not. What was the artist thinking when he undertook this work? It is supposed to be a memorial not a reminder of the moment of death to further scar the victims of Hillsborough relatives. Melt it down a.s.a.p.

Absolutely Spot on there Goat

RIP the 96

 

[Cahill's Metatarsal]

I saw this on another forum & the only reason I didn't give the thread starter a load of abuse for what I assumed was a sick joke is that I couldn't be arsed with the argument at that stage of the morning. I genuinely can't believe this has actually been commissioned, what the **** are these people thinking? Just seems to me like the creator is going for something controversial so that it gets more attention. That's all well & good on a normal sculpture but to do it for a memorial defies belief.

As for the question over whether a memorial is required at all, it all comes down to personal opinion. Some people don't like to be reminded about something that cost somebody their lives, which I can understand, others feel that if people are never forgotten then they never truly die, which I can understand too. It all depends on how the families of those who died feel - if they feel it's best to create a memorial then create 1, if they don't then don't.

I personally feel that a memorial would be nice. When I go to Anfield for a derby, I spend a few weeks feeling utter hatred towards the club & that goes up a step when the adrenaline of matchday kicks in, but then I walk past the memorial there & it makes me stop & take note of things. I've been to that cesspit plenty of times & every time I have the same feeling, it's really surreal, it's the same when I go to Old Trafford & see the names of the players who died in the Munich disaster on the wall.

If that could be recreated in the City Centre I'd be in favour of it so long as the families of the people who died agreed. This sculpture though? No, absolutely not.

 

[BlackToffee]

When I first saw the story I thought that it was some scouse humour which passed me by as a wool. I had to double read it.

That is as appalling as you could make it.

I'm not sure if this story is a comment on artists in general or a lack of empathy of one such "artist", but its in appallingly bad taste.

Wouldn't surprise me if Tate Gallery took it up.

 

[Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian]

if they wanted something respectful then they shouldn't have commissioned it to an artist, artists create controversy to draw attention to their work, the more controversial the more publicity. this is where art is these days due to damien hurst etc. and national prizes being given to the most 'out there' exhibits.
i think an eternal flame would have been the most appropriate, in a prominant position either in the city or at the entrance to the river mersey.

 

[DENNIS STEVENS]

As a work of art I think it has some merit, but I don't think it's entirely appropriate as a memorial.

 

[Upper Sturry Sherbets]

I'm having a hard time working out what it is supposed to be, or is representing.

Hillsborough OK, but it does appear a bit misleading, sorry for my ignorance.

 

[Rook]

if they wanted something respectful then they shouldn't have commissioned it to an artist, artists create controversy to draw attention to their work, the more controversial the more publicity. this is where art is these days due to damien hurst etc. and national prizes being given to the most 'out there' exhibits.
i think an eternal flame would have been the most appropriate, in a prominant position either in the city or at the entrance to the river mersey.

Not necessaily true. An artist designed the Vietnam War dead momument its well done and one of the most visited monuments in DC. Though that design was chosen out of hundreds of others.

This on the other hand, WTF?? They couldn't make it any more tasteless if they added loudspeakers of people screaming in terror.