In the coastal town of St Austell, Cornwall, residents are up in arms over a towering ceramic statue that has become a source of local derision. Dubbed the ‘£80k kebab,’ the 11.5-meter-tall sculpture, known as ‘Earth Goddess,’ was designed by artist Sandy Brown to honor the town’s China clay heritage. However, its reception has been anything but warm.
Since its reveal four years ago, the statue has faced relentless ridicule from locals who have criticized its appearance. The towering artwork, intended to be a cultural landmark, has instead become an object of scorn, drawing comparisons to a giant kebab due to its unique design.
Adding to the controversy, the statue has recently become a haven for pigeons, creating a new headache for the town. Local Labour MP Noah Law has acknowledged the problem, noting that the birds have found a nesting ground within the statue.
Law expressed the community’s sentiments, stating, “The fact is it’s not much loved by the town.” He emphasized the absence of a management plan for the sculpture, suggesting that regardless of one’s artistic preferences, the statue requires proper maintenance and an appropriate plan for its upkeep. As it stands, the ‘Earth Goddess’ remains a contentious figure in the heart of St Austell.
Noah Law, who represents St Austell and Newquay, said: ‘The fact is it’s not much loved by the town.
‘There are pigeons nesting in it and there isn’t actually a proper management plan for it, so whether you’re a lover of this kind of art or not there needs to be some proper maintenance and proper place for it.’
A new survey of 500 local people also revealed 90 per cent want the statue removed.
Priced at £80,000, the structure aimed to put the town ‘on the map’ after three years of construction.
‘Earth Goddess’ (pictured) was created by artist Sandy Brown to celebrate the heritage of China clay in St Austell, Cornwall
Since its unveiling four years ago, locals have relentlessly mocked the 11.5m-high structure – even likening it to an £80,000 kebab
The artwork was made by Sandy Brown, who signed her named on the work
However, previous comments from locals have likened it to a ‘pork sword’. Someone joked: ‘Meet me at the pork sword in town.’
Another added: ‘It looks just like a kebab – it’s become a bit of an embarrassment.’
The statue has also been dubbed an ‘offence to god’.
Somebody previously warned: ‘A commissioned artwork shouldn’t have any religious connotations which are now being imposed upon the town of St Austell.
‘This is an offence not only to members of the public but also to God. Just imagine the amount of good that could have come from that £80,000 could have fed and homed homeless people.’
Chairman of the Town Team and cafe owner Jake Richards this week told the BBC most people think it is ‘out of place where it is’.
He said: ‘For some, the artwork has become a symbol of frustration around spending priorities, regeneration efforts, and the perceived lack of meaningful public consultation in decision-making processes.’
The project aims to ‘work with creative people, to make innovative and activated public spaces that use art and design to celebrate the culture of clay country’
A small number of people interviewed in the survey did feel positively about the statue – though the group behind the artwork’s original installation no longer exists.
Described online as resembling a ‘giant Native American totem’, the statue is the crowning piece of the Austell Project’s Whitegold Ceramic Art Trail.
The project aims to ‘work with creative people, to make innovative and activated public spaces that use art and design to celebrate the culture of clay country, adding to a sense of place’.
The statue stands taller than two double decker buses and was designed by Ms Brown to ‘visually connect with St Austell’s rich China clay heritage’.
Ms Brown explained: ‘I really wanted this sculpture to make an impact and for it to visually connect with St Austell’s rich China clay heritage.
‘The Earth Goddess is made of the product, clay, which is so intrinsic to this place.
‘It’s my hope that she celebrates the town’s unique history and represents our collective and eternal roots with the environment, nature and mother earth.’
