Now I shouldn’t be blogging today but I saw this new sculpture on Friday, learnt a bit more about it today and need a fresh way to procrastinate instead of writing an assignment. Exeter hasn’t had a fountain for several hundred years, since the Great Conduit, an ornate fountain through which water was available to the public was demolished, but there have been whisperings.
Enter Simon Ruscoe, a talented local artist with a passion for public art. Simon has been working on a large scale sculpture collective, for many years hoping that one day it would be on permanent display in his city.
The sculpture below, one of the seven figures hand cut from steel is twenty feet high and it symbolises the difficult times we are living through. If placed in a fountain as Simon hopes, it reflects society’s struggle to keep our head above water, a group united as it strives to survive.
Art is meant to be thought provoking, but the local newspaper reports that this sculpture isn’t getting totally positive feedback. Among the comments are that it is too modern, the city should have a fountain recalling the blitz in 1942 as well as some positive comments. Well I personally love it, and I wish Simon Ruscoe luck with getting it permanently placed, preferably in Exeter. This is our chance to gain an icon as powerful as the Angel of the North or the Damien Hurst’s Verity, currently residing in Ilfracombe. If not, I’m sure that someone with insight and an open mind will welcome it.
Tell me what you think, would you like it in your city centre?
http://www.simonruscoe.co.uk to learn more.
Lucid Gypsy 
Strange and disturbing, if interesting. I think the purpose of art is often to shake people up and take notice. But really, if it were in NYC (which I still consider “my city”) my hunch is that people would walk past it all day long without batting an eye.
Not an attractive addition to the landscape, Gilly, but I suppose it is very relevant to the times we’re living through.
Not pretty, but interesting. I do find myself wondering where the water flows from (the eyes???)
This certainly depicts struggle to me so it’s fitting, right? All art doesn’t need to be handsome to be appreciated. I like it. I’m curious about the fountain part now.
I love it as well. It does represent the times we live in where the majority of people ARE trying to keep their heads above water. Not a pretty sight but there are times when this is the case in life. Pittsburgh would welcome this fountain. We did produce Andy Warhol and he wasn’t popular at first, if I recall.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
Thought provoking…I enjoy your blog-thank you for reading mine. beebeesworld
such a graphic portrayal of our struggle to survive, we do need outward expressions of the anguish we sometimes face inwardly … this fountain would bring visitors to the city i am sure …
Indeed very thought provoking art Gilly. He is very talented and the sculpture sure does portray our daily struggles and I think as well the sculptor’s own. If I lived there and was a landowner, I sure would have allowed him to site his figures. This made me think about all the artists who struggled so much in life trying to get their art sold and only after their deaths their art were sold for millions. Actually sad. Great post hon. 🙂
Such drama! It’s hard to ignore gow eloquent this piece is!
It has a sense of energy, anger, and fear. I kinda like it. I have to say it would catch my eye if I wandered by it and I would stop to read about it.
I personally would Gilly. But I can guarantee there would be massive opposition from the ‘purists’ 😀
Well, actually, however talented the artist (and he clearly is) and however provocative and interesting the sculpture (and it is) — my answer is No, I wouldn’t particularly care for it in my town. I think this is the BIG question with art of our times: how to achieve something which is beautiful not from former times, but right within our modern context — which contains so much which is unlovely.
It is a challenge for modern music — and modern art of all kinds —
And occasionally it is even met!
Well, it is a fascinating piece, though.
An interesting idea & certainly the sculptures are appropriate for now. Hopefully though, things will get better & they may not fit!
It is a very thought provoking sculpture. It has intensity. The steel and the minimalism of design create a stark view. The message is in its visual stance creates a forcefulness that is in some ways less beautiful but for the subject matter behind it is effective. This will be a sculpture that will have people talking about it for a long time. This is another factor when people are deciding on a permanent art piece. Nice post , Gilly …
I like it. It would certainly be an improvment on the one in my town centre.