Antony Gormley talks to an audience which included Eric Snell, front row far left, head of art at the College of Further Education and curator-director of the International Artists in Residence Programme, which brought Mr Gormley to the island. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0565710)
ANTONY GORMLEY got islanders talking at the weekend as his Castle Cornet installation was put into place.
Eric Snell, curator-director of the International Artists in Residence Programme, which brought Mr Gormley to the island, said that it had surpassed expectations.
‘It’s a very good, intelligent use of space, an intelligent connection with the building,’ he said. ‘Guernsey is lucky to have such an amazing project.’
HSBC Private Bank was behind the initiative. The company’s Steve Eldridge said that the installation team had done a commendable job to get the structures into position, given the early-morning drizzle.
But what did islanders think of them?
‘I think they are cool,’ said St Peter Port resident Jackie Walden, who works in administration.
She had sent her daughter a text message reminding her to have a look as she left Guernsey on the Condor ferry.
‘I had forgotten they were coming – they are pretty impressive,’ said Mrs Walden. ‘It makes you look again at Castle Cornet as many islanders take it for granted really.’
Mr Eldridge said that he had spoken to a group of students from Jersey who were ‘amazed’ on spotting Mr Gormley and his installation.
He added that the intention was to inspire local students.
And Mr Gormley, most famous for the Angel of the North, had praise for the setting.
‘You couldn’t do anything more impressive than the castle itself,’ he said.
‘So you would have to somehow change it. It’s more like a castle with whiskers now.’
He said that he was particularly impressed with the way St Peter Port surrounded the castle as if it were an ampitheatre.
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