SquaresRenew 29: Looking in, Looking out
On our walk round the city walls of Derry we came across this sculpture by Antony Gormley outside the Millennium Forum Theatre. Although it looks slightly sinister to me, its message is clearly one of renewal and moving forward, especially as it was created in 1987 when the Troubles were still ongoing. It’s quite a complicated message so I’ve reproduced the information board in full below.
LOOKING IN, LOOKING OUT
In 1987 artist Antony Gormley installed three doubled cast iron bodycases: Sculpture for Derry Walls, on the Walls as part of a temporary exhibition. The work re-interprets the central icon of Christianity but crucifies one body against the other. The aspiration was that by re-presenting Derry’s two religious communities and embodying their common redemptive belief, the work would act as a poultice and draw thoughts and feelings that otherwise might be expressed in more violent ways. The open eye holes allow the viewer to reconcile opposing views from within and without the city walls. each side of the work either looking into the Walled City or out towards the Fountain, Bogside or, in this site, the British Army’s Ebrington Barracks. The artist gifted this work to the city, when the other sculptures were acquired abroad.
Part of Becky’s SquaresRenew Challenge, using images from our April 2024 trip to Northern Ireland to illustrate one or more of the following:
- Move forward
- Reconstruct
- Renew
- Burgeoning
The Glasgow Gallivanter 
An interesting concept, but maybe not the most pleasing execution!
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Agreed!
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I’ve fallen down on looking at your great blog. I really like this and so much thought went into this.
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Not to worry! Too much to keep up with every day.
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Clever, albeit not obvious
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No, requires a couple of reads of the explanation!
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There’s no mistaking an Antony Gormley sculpture! I like the thinking behind this although it’s not obvious when you see it I suspect.
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Not until you read the info board- even then it takes a bit of effort to get your head around it.
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The sentiment is good, the sculpture is somewhat frightening. My immediate thought was Hannibal Lecter.
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I see what you mean! I hadn’t thought of him.
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Thought provoking art – makes a great square
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It does – with all the caveats outlined in previous comments!
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Having read the write-up i can see the sense of it but it still looks weird 🙂
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I think if it needs that amount of explanation it’s maybe not working as well as it should.
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I’m with you on this, especially as I had to read the explanation more than once!
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So much symbolism in such a simple shape.
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That’s true!
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Looks a bit sinister. I like it. Reminds me of the all powerful robot guardian in Day The Earth Stood Still. Bob.
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Sinister seems to be the consensus! I don’t know the robot you refer to but it sounds about right!
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There’s a lot more to Gormley than meets the eye. An interesting one, if not Gorgeous, as my spell-checker assumed I meant.
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I like the intention but find the actual figure a bit unsettling. Not gorgeous as you say!
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Reminds me of Angel of the North.
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Same stance, different stature! And I much prefer the Angel.
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I understand the message but it’s an ugly looking thing, in my eyes.
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I didn’t take to it either, but as soon as I read the info board I knew it was destined for Becky’s challenge.
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hee hee well I am glad squares has created a home for it!
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