Last week, we covered the newly released designs for a landmark sculpture that would be built at Flint Castle in Wales. The sculpture, designed by George King Architects, was to be a cantilevered bridge structure made of weathering steel and engraved with words chosen from the local community. At first, the design seemed as innocuous as any—turns out, not so much.
The news of the selected design has sparked a lot of controversy and a petition calling for the sculpture to be scrapped has received over 9,000 signatures. The design and name of the sculpture reference the series of castles, built by Edward I, that allowed him to conquer the then, independent Wales. Many are upset, rightfully so, that what should be a celebration of Wales and Welsh culture, has turned into a celebration of its conquest and subsequent oppression by England. In response, the county of Flint has urged the Welsh Government, who ran the contest, to talk with the town before any further action is taken in regards to the proposed landmark.
Here are some responses from our comment section and twitter account:
Absolutely! Us taffs should quite rightly celebrate and be eternally grateful for the fact that we were conquered and subjugated by the English who tried to wipe out our language and culture off the face of the planet and make us English.—lazylabourout
If this nonsense goes ahead, it will result in armies of welsh patriots turning up with angle grinders and scrap metal trucks.
— Dafydd Bevan 🏴🇮🇪 (@DaiBev) July 25, 2017
Would the English celebrate (and that's what is is) Napoleon or Hitler's 'ring of steel' castles had history turned out differently?
I'm all for regenerating Flint and drawing people to the castle. But I'm fed up seeing Welsh government bodies with people on good salaries and perks celebrate the subjection of Wales whilst refusing to fund a sculture for Tryweryn by John Meirion Morris, or Glyndwr's Sycharth. And this constant apprisal of Welsh history through the norms of English historiography - that is, it's only important if it relates to England. Welsh history and historical landmarks, can't just stand on themselves, they, we, have to justify ourselves to others.
Ignorant, arrogant and insulting. —siônjobbins
It is ridiculous that the Welsh should be paying for a monument celebrating their own conquest and subjugation.
— Ianto Phillips (@phillips_ianto) July 24, 2017
Do not build this cruel symbol of tyranny.
Stop it now!—Rhian M
What in the wide world possessed the designers to think Wales wanted a sculpture celebrating a war of conquest we lost? And what demented colonial-mindset-afflicted Dic Siôn Dafydd approved it?
Seriously - they need to read the responses, go back to the drawing board and think again.—leiawelsh
We don't want it. You can keep it in England thanks very much.
— Emma J 🏴 🦓 (@fussytarts) July 25, 2017
I wonder whether the company is aware of the sensitivity of this issue and the historical symbolism of the concept of an 'iron ring' to the Welsh psyche. If I were their PR advisor I would be telling them to get the hell out of this project NOW, otherwise it will be a costly PR disaster for George King.—Gareth Westacott
An incredible set of responses. Who would have thought sculptures could elicit such visceral reactions regarding oppressive events in history.
Thank you to those who commented.
All 3 Comments
What a patronising statement! - '... the design seemed as innocuous as any...' - Exactly, because the English never consider us Welsh worthy of their respect in the first place. Their ignorance of our history as a people and nation, which has been obliterated by their own propoganda about themselves and us over the centuries, is so telling. If any such structure/sculpture which touched on any black/Asian/women/homosexual/disabled or such-like 'minority' subject was deemed in any way 'controversial' as this one proposed is, then it would never be seriously considered, and certainly not considered 'innocuous'. They have had to learn to be sensitive and respectful of these issues, but still not yet about us.
I am Welsh and worthy, and I demand your respect, as you would mine of me. This proposed project is an affront, and was from the beginning. Think again.
Calm down there William Wallace. It's a nice looking concept. Save the outrage for when the starbucks and cheesy souvenir shops start appearing.
See what I mean...? No English understanding in the first place of why over 10,000 of us Welsh find this 'Anus of the North' such an affront to our national dignity. (Oh, and by the way, for Non Sequitur and those others unacquainted with Scottish history as well as Welsh history, Wallace was a Scot... )
Looks like you missed my point entirely.
No. I think you missed HIS point entirely.
Divorced from any regional historical interpretation, it's a fun design that references pop culture, pop art, and science fiction.
If the cultural context had been reversed, and it had been presented as a memorial to historic Welsh kings - "when giants walked the Earth" or something along those lines ...
Lesson: context is everything.
Can you sell this "bridge" for me? Unfortunately you are right, you can sell crap as long as you package it nicely, which is what most starchitects do.
Unfortunately you are right, you can sell crap as long as you package it nicely, which is what most architects do.
FIFY.
Ha, most architects don't even know how to talk to an audience, much less sell their crap. We would all be in the $1MM retainer club by now.
An incredible set of responses. Who would have thought sculptures could elicit such visceral reactions regarding oppressive events in history.
Thank you to those who commented.
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