In Cavendish Square, near Oxford Street, there is a plinth which used to house the statue of the Duke of Cumberland on horseback from 1770 to 1868. The statue was removed in the 19th C due to widespread disapproval of his actions following the Battle of Culloden in Scotland. 144 years later in 2012 a replica of the statue took its place on the plinth. This was no ordinary stone statue this was made of soap!
The Korean artist Meekyoung Shin 'wanted to bring focus to the passage of time as the sculpture weathers. The detail of the statue will soften and fade over time, symbolising the mutable meanings we attached to public monuments and our history'
Not sure how many people walking past realise that the statue is made of soap. I certainly didn't until I read the plaque nearby.
The Korean artist Meekyoung Shin 'wanted to bring focus to the passage of time as the sculpture weathers. The detail of the statue will soften and fade over time, symbolising the mutable meanings we attached to public monuments and our history'
I did , I hav eseen the sculpture in another blog, looks like the lower leg has gone now. Not sure I'd want to use the soap to wash with
ReplyDeleteI take it this is literally soap and not soap stone, which is also quite soft.
ReplyDeleteYou are kidding, made of soap?
ReplyDeleteHmm, I bet the ground around it is slippery after a rain! It's an interesting way to get the point of what time does to things across.
ReplyDeleteDoes it lather up when it rains?
ReplyDeletesoap statue...I've seen most of everything bizarre now
ReplyDeleteThat is really cool. You find the most amazing things around London. Thanks for sharing them with me. I am learning so much! :-)
ReplyDeleteThat is really interesting. You'd think a good rainstorm would wash it all away.
ReplyDeletelovely monument
ReplyDeleteA statue made out of SOAP???? Woooo---never would have thought of that... Wonder why it didn't melt when it rained???? So interesting...
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Betsy
Well, that is a brand new one for me.. fascinating! I, like your other posters, wonder how much time it will take for rain and time to soften its features (and memories) as the sculptor intended. Your post inspired some curiosity so I checked out The Duke of Cumberland on a Wikipedia page. What a tumultuous life he led, with his parents grooming him from the age of 4 (!) for military success. A psychologist could have had a hey day explaining his disastrous military decisions after initial successes.
ReplyDelete