The contraversal Scallop on Aldebugh beach is interesteing. I’m not sure what to make of it. Maggi Hambling sees it a tribute to Benjamin Britten.
Though this is where the controvesy starts - Britten was inspired by the emptyness of the beach. Sticking a 5 metre high lump of stainless in the middle does change the view somewhat!
Ultimately, like any work of art, i think it deserves to be judged solely on it’s asthetics and it’s on that level which i’m undecided. i just can’t decide if i like the look of the thing!
Links:
I’m not in Charge of What I do - Guardian Article
Britten sculpture damaged again - BBC news
Nature does a much better job at shells.
I suppose it’s too high up the beach to hope that it’ll be washed away?
Having stumbled across the private web site of someone else by the name of Paul Downey,which purely by coincidence has on it photos of and opinions regarding the Scallop sculpture on the beach at Aldeburgh.I feel that I should point out that this has no connection whatsoever with me and that I have no opinion to offer either way with regard to this subject.
I hope that the people of Aldeburgh know me well enough in any event to realise that this was nothing to do with me.
Pc 1081 Downey,Aldeburgh Police Station.
I think this is a wonderful piece of work -very moving and entirely appropriate in its siting. It constantly changes with the light, like the place itself. It also provides shelter fron the cold and rain and a place to gaze out from and reflect, not least upon the inscription. It would provide a wonderful centrepiece for the staging of ‘The Tempest’, with Caliban emerging from within.
awesome, every angle a differnt carnation. one side a scallop sheltering, protecting and the other a raging sea creature roaring face on at the bitter winds and the driving waves that wash just metres forward and below.