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Sculptors at war over Mandela statue

Hugh Muir

LONDON: Professor Glynn Williams, head of the School of Fine Art at the Royal College of Art, London, is a man whose opinions are prized by the cultural establishment. By contrast, Ian Walters, the award-winning sculptor, draws support from the Labour and trade union movement. Both love their art, but they have little time for each other.

The two will clash over plans to erect a new statue of Nelson Mandela in Trafalgar Square. Mr. Walters, acclaimed sculptor of campaigner Trevor Huddlestone, suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst and former British Prime Minister James Callaghan, is the artist who has been commissioned. As envisaged by the Mayor of London, his statue would stand in front of the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square.

The stumbling block is Prof. Williams, who will launch a scathing attack on Mr. Walters and his statue at an inquiry, which starts on Tuesday. He will appear for the Westminster Council, which dislikes the statue and the prime location sought by Mayor Ken Livingstone.

Documents show there will be few holds barred. The Professor's submission says: "My main objection to the proposed sculpture is the quality of the work on offer. I believe this to be a run-of-the mill mediocre modelling in an attempt to get a mimetic likeness." He says the problem is not just the proposed sculpture but Walters too. "The sculpture proposed by Ian Walters is an adequate portrait but nothing more. In my opinion a sculptor of more originality and inventiveness should have been chosen." But the Professor may take some flak himself. It is not just that Mr. Walters has many supporters, including Mr. Mandela himself, the Mayor and Tony Benn. There is also the matter of a previous occasion, in 1998, when Mr. Walters won the commission to create a sculpture of Lord Wilson of Rievaulx, the former Prime Minister, for Huddersfield Art Gallery. That time there was a competition. Among the losers was Prof. Williams.

Westminster Council has refused three times planning permission for the statue to be sited in front of the National Gallery, saying it would spoil the look of the square.

© Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

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