The Angel Of The North

[poliphilo]

On our way down from the Wall we took a very short, curly detour to have a closer look at The Angel of the North. Gormley's a limited artist; he has had one or two great ideas- a bit like Henry Moore- and has worked at them and worked at them- and the Angel is the climax of his life's work- the greatest piece of public sculpture of the age- actually more than that- the work that has revived the worn-out genre of public sculpture and made it exciting and challenging again. Now every region of Britain wants something similar.

It stands on a hillock on the edge of a Gateshead council estrate overlooking the road. As you drive north you see it rising above the low roofs and the lamp posts to greet you. Get close and it's huge. 

Comments

[ibid.livejournal.com]

That's a beautiful siluette (?spelling).

Thanks for the photos. My Dad grew up round Hexham but we've never really looked much round the area to my dismay.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

This was my first visit to the North East (apart from a day trip to Durham about 20 years ago) and I really, really want to go back. It's a fabulous part of the country.

[haikujaguar.livejournal.com]

!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It's fabulous, isn't it? It's only been up a few years but it's already a national icon.

[haikujaguar.livejournal.com]

It's truly amazing!

[solar-diablo.livejournal.com]

My first impression was that it evokes Christian, pagan, industrial, and World War II themes. A summary of British history in a single piece of sculpture. Now to google more images of it.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I think you're bang on the money there. There are other images of it on the final page of my Scrapbook.

[solar-diablo.livejournal.com]

Looking at it closer reinforces my opinion about the pagan element. Those ridges remind me of a wickerman. Pretty impressive piece all around.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Indeed. Gormley has a genius for placing extraordinary things in the landscape.

[jackiejj.livejournal.com]

Is your Scrapbook online?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It's my LJ Scrapbook. It's accessible through my Userinfo page. There are well over 1000 pictures there, arranged in galleries.

[mummm.livejournal.com]

Wow! I'll have to look at the other images in your scrapbook.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I take a lot of photos. Only a few ever make it into the body of the blog.

[mummm.livejournal.com]

I know, and I do go into your scrapbook to look because you go so many interesting places and write so well about them.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

[mara-aseachange.blogspot.com (from livejournal.com)]

I'd love to see that in person; it's a spectacular landmark.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I was unsure of my feelings until I actually saw it in situ. Now I'm a believer.