Worshippers say plan for new bronze Amazonian love god statue near cathedral is ‘offensive to Christians
- Planning application received over 60 complaints from members of the public
Christians have slammed a plan to erect a statue of an Amazonian love god near a cathedral as ‘offensive’ and an ‘insult.’
The bizarre-looking 6ft 2in bronze figure is being paid for by taxpayers as part of a £1million trail of five sculptures through the centre of Wakefield, West Yorkshire.
According to its creator, artist Jason Wilsher-Mills, the sculpture was inspired by a painting of local Victorian conservationist Charles Waterton capturing a caiman or alligator-type creature, the love story of his parents and his own connections with Wakefield.
But a planning application to site the ‘pagan statue’ on Cathedral Walk, close to the historic Anglican cathedral’s main entrance, has prompted more than 60 complaints from members of the public.
Christians have slammed a plan to erect a statue of an Amazonian love god near a cathedral as ‘offensive’ and an ‘insult’. The statue is pictured
The bizarre-looking 6ft 2in bronze figure is being paid for by taxpayers as part of a £1million trail of five sculptures through the centre of Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Complaining about the insensitive location, one objector commented: ‘How can you possibly think that the erection of a Sun God opposite the central place of Christian worship in the city and district, could be acceptable?
‘It is at best insensitive and at worst a deliberate attempt to mock Christianity, the cathedral and all it stands for. Is this a precedent?
‘Should we expect the council to place such offensive statues outside other local centres of worship, Christian and otherwise?’
Another resident said: ‘Having a statue like this outside Wakefield Cathedral would completely mock the Christian faith in every way. Very wrong in my opinion and needs to be put elsewhere, if anywhere.’
A third said ‘to put a symbol of a sun god in the vicinity of the cathedral’ would be ‘an affront to our Christian heritage and our identity as a cathedral city’.
While another objector stated: ‘This is an absolute violation of what the Church of God stands for an my belief as a Christian.’
But Mr Wilsher-Mills, who was born in Wakefield, said the ‘central message’ of his artwork was ‘love and hope.’
He previously said the installation was ‘going to be an absolute game-changer’. He said: ‘I want it to be the instigator of romances for years to come. I really think this will re-define what sculpture can do.’
The love god sculpture would be a ‘talking point’ and ‘landmark’ for the area, he added.
According to its creator, artist Jason Wilsher-Mills (pictured), the sculpture was inspired by a painting of local Victorian conservationist Charles Waterton capturing a caiman or alligator-type creature, the love story of his parents and his own connections with Wakefield
A planning application to site the ‘pagan statue’ on Cathedral Walk, close to the historic Anglican cathedral’s main entrance, (pictured) has prompted more than 60 complaints from members of the public
In notes explaining his artwork, he said it depicts ‘an Amazonian Caiman god, who would be holding the two lovers in his right hand, and making sure mum and dad arrived on the ferry boat to Walton Hall, the home of Squire Waterton.’
‘This would serve as a metaphor for caring for the earth, as well as being about personal love stories,’ he added.
Waterton was a sponsor of Wakefield Museum, which housed much of his collection of preserved animals – including a prized stuffed South American caiman – for more than 50 years.
Mr Wilsher-Mills, who has used a wheelchair since the age of 11 when chicken pox damaged his central nervous system, said his work ‘celebrates disability, my northern working-class heritage and popular culture, through cutting edge technologies and brightly coloured, large scale humorous, but challenging art’.
The government-funded art trail ‘aims to capture Wakefield’s heritage of sculpture.’
Wakefield is the birthplace of Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth, two of our greatest sculptors.
The project is being fully funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
If planning consent is granted the sculptures will be in place this summer.
Source: Read Full Article