A campaigner has defended a controversial statue commemorating feminist advocate and writer Mary Wollstonecraft in Newington Green on its first anniversary, despite criticism of the decision to feature a naked female figure.
Professor Anna Birch, a founding member of the ‘Mary on the Green’ Campaign, said there is “nothing [she] would do differently” despite initial criticism online.
The statue, created by British sculptor Maggi Hambling OBE, was designed to reflect the trees around Newington Green. The figure is supposed to represent empowerment and women growing from each other.
According to Professor Birch, the campaign group knew that Hambling’s work “often caused controversy”.
The £143,000 sculpture, which took 10 years of campaigning to create, was first unveiled to the public on 10th November 2020 to heavy scrutiny.
“There was a pile-on,” admitted Professor Birch, “With the pandemic, [people] were locked in at home and used it to let off steam. [The statue] gave everyone something to hang their flag onto.”
She said: “With any contemporary art there’s always a mixed response – which is part of its role.”
Birch’s book, ‘The Story of the Statue’, describing the statue’s creation, was launched this week to coincide with the anniversary.
The artwork, and the Wollstonecraft Walk app, which allows visitors to listen to the words of Wollstonecraft and other contemporary writers, has “found its permanent home in Newington Green”, according to Professor Birch.
It has also meant “footfall increased hugely” around the park despite Covid restrictions at the beginning of 2021, as seen by local businesses, such as Lizzie’s Café and Bakery.
