Sunday 14 September 2014

Another Place

I've read about Sir Antony Gormley's Another Place on various blogs. You can read what Snowbird wrote on her Men of Iron - Another Place and Summer Sizzlers posts on her Gardens & Wildlife blog, what Angel Jem wrote on her Another Time... Another Place... post on her Angel Jem's City Cottage blog and more recently, what Travel Knitter wrote on her After The Show post on her Travel Knitter blog.


As Mick had taken the last week in August off work, we decided that one of the places we'd like to visit would be Crosby Beach where one hundred life size iron men stand looking out to sea. Sir Antony Gormley used casts of his own body to create these figures and each one weighs 650 kilos. He says: "In this work, human life is tested against planetary time. This sculpture exposes to light and time the nakedness of a particular and peculiar body, no hero, no ideal, just the industrially reproduced body of a middle-aged man trying to remain standing and trying to breathe, facing a horizon busy with ships, moving materials and manufactured things around the planet."



You wouldn't say that Crosby Beach was a beautiful place, it's very industrial with cargo ships sailing by and a wind farm off in the distance, but it's a fascinating place with all these figures in different stages rising out of the sand.



Some of the figures have been clothed by visitors to the beach, it was quite eerie watching the sea lap around this one as the clothing made this iron man seem more human.


Archie was very inquisitive. I've known him bark at statues before now, but he didn't in this case.


It was a blustery day and ripples were being made on the sand by the wind.


There were so many razor clam shells that you really couldn't avoid stepping on them.


This figure had been dressed in ladies clothing which Archie found most strange.


Unfortunately, the skirt got wet before the sea had come in. Naughty Archie.


I'm not sure that this iron man could swim. At least he's got something to keep him afloat when the tide comes in.


I really enjoyed my visit. I find this sculpture very thought provoking and it's one of those which will definitely have different meanings to different people.


Whilst we were in the area, we took advantage and headed off to a place we've wanted to visit for a long time. I'll tell you all about it in my next post.

36 comments:

  1. Fabulous, I think we have the same tastes x

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    1. I think we must have. I've been wanting to visit Another Place for a long time and it didn't disappoint.

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  2. I think they are a bit spooky, especially the ones with clothes on. I dont think I would like to be there when its getting dark and the tides coming in! xx

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    1. I think they're a bit eerie, especially when the water starts washing over them. They actually evoke feelings of sadness in me for some reason.

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    1. I know. I think it's a fabulous sculpture though.

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  4. Tha should a called by for a pot a tea and a chat!
    They are strange figures on, as you say, a not 'pretty' beach. I love the ones wearing clothes... I wonder if that's somebody taking exception to their obvious nakedness, or just an example of scouse humour?

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    1. I did think of you when we were visiting. I've been wanting to see this sculpture for a long time, though it wasn't exactly what I was expecting. I didn't realise that the figures are set so far apart, though I should have realised as they're on a beach which is 3km long and they're placed up to 1km out towards the horizon. I quite like the ones wearing clothes, it makes each of them more individual and brings them to life in a way.

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  5. I'm in two minds about these figures so guess that I'd need to see them for real to make up my mind.
    Good post and photos. Flighty xx

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    1. I don't think you do get the proper impact of them unless you're seeing them in real life. I think they can bring out different thoughts and emotions in different people. It is a thought provoking sculpture, I really like it.

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  6. I'd love to go and visit that beach and see the iron men.......they are just asking to be yarn bombed!

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    1. You're right, they are. I can just see them covered in lovely yarn.

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  7. Just the place for a yarn bombing.
    xx

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    1. Ha ha, you're not the first to think of this.

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  8. These statues are so interesting. They seem a bit creepy in a way, but I like them too. The one dressed in women's clothing was interesting, perhaps Archie was confused. :)

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    1. I know what you mean, I'm a bit confused over my feelings for them too, but I do love the sculpture as it really does stir up emotions and make you think. Archie was definitely confused, I don't think he knew what to make of them.

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  9. I agree you need to see them in real life. It's such a thought provoking installation isn't it. Which I suppose was Anthony Gormley's intention in the first place. We loved them when we went there.

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    1. I loved it and I'd love to visit again as I'm sure it's something which you'd get something out of each time you see it. I'm really pleased that you loved them too, I'm not someone who knows much about art, but I do know what I like and what I don't like and this is something which really stirred something inside me.

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  10. I love the location for these statues, and I love the beach mainly due to the fact the docks and industry are so visible. I enjoy the feeling of being isolated/free (depending on my mood) when it's so clear life is going on nearby.

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    1. I know exactly where you're coming from. I think Crosby Beach is the ideal location and I enjoyed seeing what was going on around me whilst enjoying this art work. There may be one hundred statues scattered around the beach and they seem isolated yet the industry round about brings everything closer somehow.

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  11. It's interesting, isn't it, thinking about how the statues have been placed. I've never visited them but they seem rather isolated and sad, each one on their own. I wonder what visitors' reactions would be if they'd been put closer together.

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    1. I think you've got a point there, they are rather isolated. Perhaps if they were positioned closer together they'd give a feeling of intimidation. It's interesting food for thought.

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  12. Would make a fabulous subject for a Doctor Who storyline don't you think?

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    1. Definitely. I think that would be a great storyline.

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  13. They are wonderfully executed pieces, and such a 'clever' idea. I approve of these type of installations much more than, say, the room with the light going on and off. No beauty in that for me.

    Jean
    x

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    1. I don't pretend that I know the first thing about art, but this sculpture really strikes a chord with me. I know what you mean about the room with the light going on and off, similarly Tracey Emin's Bed, I can look in my bedroom every morning if I want to see something like that.

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  14. I've heard about those statues, so thanks for the photos. They do look fascinating. Take care.

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    1. I've been wanting to visit for a long time so it was good to finally make it. I really enjoyed it.

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  15. I feel a wee bit sorry for the statues. I mean, I know they're not real but the tide covers them over and that's a bit sad. Isn't it? Or maybe I'm the sad one! :oD

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    1. I know exactly what you mean, they bring out feelings of sadness in me too. However they make you feel, they definitely make you think.

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  16. Hi Jo, they are a bit spooky...I read above about them being in a Dr Who, good idea! You could imagine them climbing out and walking off the beach. The one with the clothes on could so easily fool someone from a distance that he is real. The artists idea behind the sculptures in an interesting one. Its good when you can walk away and it makes you think or you like it. I have been to some shows and remember one artist attached a tesco bag to a tube coming off of a drier and that was it! And you could of bought it too! Goes over my head.

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    1. I find them quite eerie and I agree that they'd make a great Dr Who storyline. I can't understand some of the things which they call art, each to their own I suppose, or do some people just jump on the bandwagon? A bit like The Emperor's New Clothes.

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  17. That is definitely somewhere I want to visit. Like you I've seen it on so many blogs and really want to experience it myself.
    Lisa x

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    1. I've been wanting to visit for a long time so I'm pleased that we eventually got there. It's one sculpture which really captured my imagination and it didn't let me down when I saw it in the flesh.

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  18. Hi Jo,

    Antony Gormley is a really amazing sculptor. I see his work regularly when we pass the Angel of the North, which is just breathtaking when seen up close and far away. I didn't know about these sculptures on the beach - what an interesting place to put them. They remind me of the 'Couple' sculpture at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea by Sean Henry, which when you peep over the high sea wall looks as if the couple are walking on water. :)

    Best wishes,
    Tash from vintagepretty.org

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    1. I've never seen the Angel of the North, but Eleanor's passed it when she went on a school trip to Northumberland and said it was amazing. I do like Antony Gormley's work, there's some pieces at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, and I think Another Place is fantastic. I didn't know about the Couple sculpture, I shall have to Google that.

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