Members of the public have reacted with shock and disgust upon learning that a sculpture by disgraced artist Eric Gill remains on display at the BBC's Broadcasting House in central London, with one person saying the revelation makes him "feel like I want to vomit".
Statue's Controversial History
The Prospero and Ariel relief was commissioned by the BBC and installed at its headquarters in 1933. Gill was celebrated during his lifetime and widely regarded as one of Britain's greatest sculptors. However, a biography published in the 1980s revealed that Gill, who died in 1940, had written in his personal diaries about sexually abusing his eldest daughters and the family dog.
Calls have grown for the statue, which depicts a naked child standing before a clothed man, to be removed. The BBC has insisted it will remain in place while making clear it "in no way condones" the artist's abusive behaviour.
Public Reaction Outside Broadcasting House
Daily Express video producer Claire Mellor spoke to members of the public outside the building and asked their views on Gill's work still holding pride of place at the BBC. One man described the piece as "ugly" and, after being told about Gill's actions, said anyone capable of such behaviour must be "sick", adding that hearing about it "makes me feel like I want to vomit".
Another person said the piece "shouldn't be appreciated" or supported, while a third said knowing Gill was behind it made him feel "a little bit iffy about it". A fourth person said the fact that "an artist who was known for some of his proclivities that were questionable" has had large sums spent on giving the work greater protection is "rather offensive to me as the parent of a young child".
BBC's Position and Restoration Costs
The piece had previously been unshielded above the entrance but has been attacked and damaged in recent years. The corporation had it restored and unveiled it last year under a protective sheet of glass, with estimated costs of the repairs and new protection coming to just under £530,000.
A BBC spokesperson said: "Broadcasting House is a building of historical and cultural significance and has been so for almost a century, and the sculpture of Ariel and Prospero is an integral part of it. The BBC in no way condones Gill's abusive behaviour, but it draws a line between the actions of Gill, and the status of these artworks."
The spokesperson added: "Following two serious incidents of criminal damage, and after taking expert advice, we repaired the façade in line with the building's Grade II* status, and a protective screen was installed in consultation with Historic England and Westminster City Council to help prevent further damage."
