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The London Traveler

Kitsch or art?

by Andrea on March 27th, 2008

kiss-statue-credit-victoria-peckham.jpgAntony Gormley used the opening of his new show (blogged below) to lambast public sculpture in London.

His Angel of the North started a trend for public authorities to commission sculpture. But he’s disappointed in the standard of what is being set up.

One work that deserves this ire is “Meet me at St Pancras” by Paul Day. Gormley singles it out, and I dislike it too. Its photo-finish makes the folds of fabric seem almost slimy, everything is rounded like a Beryl Cook painting, but without the humour. And it tugs at the heart-strings in a nauseous way like a three-year-old Hollywood child star - “Look at me! I’m being passionate!” Ugh. I really do think kitsch is the word for this. Woolies will probably start doing figurines for your mantelpiece.

The restoration of this fantastic Victorian station scores highly on architectural merit. But this is not one of its successes. Oh dear.

Photo credit: Victoria Peckham, on Flickr

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POSTED IN: Photos, Uncategorized

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