There's something unnerving about Anthony Gormley's men strung out along Crosby beach.
When the tide's out they're comfortable companions that people thread in and out among in a kind of animate/inanimate interaction. They photograph each other beside the figures, look out to sea to discover what it is the figures are facing, cuddle them, even drape them with sweaters and jackets.
But when the tide comes sneaking in, creeping slowly up the figures' bodies until only their metal heads are visible it makes you begin to ask questions -
What do they mean? What are they looking at/for? Are they sad or sinister?
And what do we mean? What are we looking for/at?
They are fascinating aren't they? I'm not usually very good at 'interpreting' art but I had very strong feelings about human stoicism and vulnerability. Here's a link to one of the (several!) poems I wrote about them: http://www.thewriterseye.com/thewriterseye002janfeb2008/thewriterseye_poetry_002_2.html
ReplyDeleteThey are very disturbing in a way, which isn't a bad thing, it gets us to think.... There are some of his figures (I don't know if they're the same ones or different ones) coming to an Edinburgh river....
ReplyDeleteI have never made up my mind what I feel about them exactly, but I really enjoy going to see them.I'm glad you are going to have something similar near you, Crafty Green Poet, and, Broken Biro, I am now off to read your poem....
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