Saw that tacky statue in St Pancras the other day

[dash_two]

I mean this one, 'The Meeting':

It is unbelievably shite when you see it for real.

The 30-foot height and positioning of the statue means that if you get within a few yards of it, you're either looking up the woman's skirt or at the man's arse, depending on which side of it you happen to be.

This wouldn't be so bad if it was a good statue. But it is not. It looks like Jeff Koons went through the Argos catalogue and picked the cheesiest 'Lovers' type ornament and got a bunch of people to make a giant version of it. Even the surface finish looks like bronze-coloured resin or plastic rather than real bronze.

What an embarrassment to have the French and other Europeans greeted by this as they arrive in London.

 

[untethered]

What an embarrassment to have the French and other Europeans greeted by this as they arrive in London.

Especially when you think they could have had a good statue of Wellington.

What a missed opportunity.

 

[beeboo]

ugh, I hadn't seen the whole thing before. Crikey that really is hideous.

 

[5t3IIa]

It's a new-intake-graudate-schemeers-at-a-bank-had-a-glass-of-wine-too-many-and-now-have-to-go-home-him-to-his-parents-in-kent-and-her-to-harrow-but-isn't-it-great-that-young-people-have-sex statue.


I don't like it. It doesn't say anything. It's an ornament, and a poor one at that.

 

[girasol]

surely it says something like: a couple is meeting at a train station after not seing each other for a while?

Haven't seen the real thing, but I think it looks rather sensual from the photos

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

What happens when platforms and flatties come back into fashion. That woman's heels will be out of date

 

[5t3IIa]

surely it says something like: a couple is meeting at a train station after not seing each other for a while?

Haven't seen the real thing, but I think it looks rather sensual from the photos

It's not even a meeting - they're dressed the same - they work in the same place.

Perhaps they are meeting to discuss the new commissiong regime structures for 08/09 q1 & q2?

 

[dash_two]

Especially when you think they could have had a good statue of Wellington.

Should have just moved Martin Jennings's Betjeman statue to a more central position and scrapped the Martian Argos Lovers.

 

[maldwyn]

Absolutely dreadful and a waste of a million £.

 

[dash_two]

surely it says something like: a couple is meeting at a train station after not seing each other for a while?

More like: "Welcome to England, Abandon Taste All Ye Who Enter".

 

[trashpony]

I think we've lost our balls when it comes to public art commissioning - it's all so dull

 

[5t3IIa]

I think we've lost our balls when it comes to public art commissioning - it's all so dull

I like whatshisface with the roll-up bridge. Oh, and the Angel of the North.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

It's not even a meeting - they're dressed the same - they work in the same place.

Perhaps they are meeting to discuss the new commissiong regime structures for 08/09 q1 & q2?

the guy's wearing a skirt and heels as well?


*goes back to check picture*

 

[untethered]

I think we've lost our balls when it comes to public art commissioning - it's all so dull

Ah, but the Betjeman statue is excellent. Not only does it have real dynamism but it's part of the story of the place.

The problem with The Meeting is that the only story it's part of is the management's marketing plans to "brand" St Pancras as a place to meet, shop, eat and drink regardless of whether you're travelling on a train.

 

[trashpony]

I like whatshisface with the roll-up bridge. Oh, and the Angel of the North.

I do too but they were considered 'contravershal' by people whose sole criteria for 'good' is 'can you recognise who it's supposed to be?'

I dunno - I love the Betjeman one but the Meeting is just wishy washy. I'd have liked them to have gone for something much more dynamic and very different from the Betjeman - if anything, the fact that its so similar in style invites comparison. To the detriment of the Meeting.

 

[5t3IIa]

the guy's wearing a skirt and heels as well?


*goes back to check picture*

Noooo, they are both wearing suits.

 

[paolo]

I liked the concept when I first heard about it - back to the romance of the old days of rail travel and all that.

But I think the execution is terrible. Gotta agree with the op on that score.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Noooo, they are both wearing suits.

Yes, well they probably both work in an office

 

[5t3IIa]

Yes, well they probably both work in an office

That's what I said up there ^^ Did you not read the thread?

 

[untethered]

They should have called it The Target Audience.

 

[paolo]

Noooo, they are both wearing suits.

I know - so wrong. I wonder if it would have better as 20s style 'smart' dress -something a bit more timeless, if that's not a contradiction.

The backpack on the man is a horrible detail.

 

[5t3IIa]

I know - so wrong. I wonder if it would have better as 20s style 'smart' dress -something a bit more timeless, if that's not a contradiction.

The backpack on the man is a horrible detail.

Maybe we just don't like representations of 'now' in figurative statuary? We're used to Greeks, Romans, Michaelangelo, Rodin...anything from the 21stc just looks wrong.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

That's what I said up there ^^ Did you not read the thread?

Yes, well maybe he'd been away in France for a week on business and she's come to meet him at the station on her way home from work. Just because they both work in an office doesn't mean they can't be a couple who are just meeting after a week apart

 

[trashpony]

And the plinth is butt-ugly too

 

[5t3IIa]

And the plinth is butt-ugly too

I'd say the best thing about it is: it's big. No fucking about: it's got some size on it.

 

[dash_two]

Good, that will increase the scrap value.

What's the website where you can start electronic petitions?

 

[editor]

Hang on! What's in his backpack?!!!

Call the trrsm police!

 

[untethered]

Hang on! What's in his backpack?!!!

Eyeliner, wet wipes and a copy of Bridget Jones's Diary by the looks of it.

 

[girasol]

I know - so wrong. I wonder if it would have better as 20s style 'smart' dress -something a bit more timeless, if that's not a contradiction.

The backpack on the man is a horrible detail.

Something from the 40s would probably work better I think. Like you I also liked the concept - but I still don't think I can make my mind up just by looking at photos. I have to see it in the flesh before I can condemn it (or not).

Anyway, for all we know that way of dressing will probably be considered 'stylish' and nostalgic in about 50 years...

 

[Poi E]

Sculpted frottage! Ewwww. And his head looks well funny. WTF?