Sculptor Chosen for Brian Epstein statue?

[christine~]

This artist that has supposedly been chosen(?)
to create the sculpture of our dear Mr Epstein ~
~ hmmm! Her existing work scares me.

(Click pics to see larger images)

This is supposed to be Oscar Wilde
Title: "A Conversation With Oscar Wilde"


Oscar Wilde's face(?) closeup


This is supposed to be her friend Stephen Fry
"Stephen Fry Musing"


"Jackie Laughing"


"Mac With Shadows"


Her very best friend forever, the late George Melly
"George Melly Singing"


"Michael McGahey"


"Jemma Seated"


"Charlie Abrew"


According to my favorite Beatle news site, WhatGoesOn.com[/u][/url] ~

Maggi Hambling

[/u][/url] has been approached to create a sculpture to be placed at the site of St Lukes at the top of Bold Street, close to the place of Brian Epstein's birth. Though there is little of solid detail yet, with some help there will be a monument to recognise his achivement, in Liverpool, in time for the anniversary of his death in August 2008.

To read the entire article and see a nice little sepia-tone pic of Brian, go { HERE }[/td][/tr][/table] [/blockquote]In the humble opinion of the eppylover, all of the subjects of her artistic endeavors seem to have gone through a initiation of being kicked with steel-toed boots or something.

This is just what we need with Brian. Let's erect a monument to his gay-bashings.

Augghhh.

But... awwwww, then again, we must remember that Brian was quite fond of strange modern art, so maybe he wouldn't mind.
It's even quite probable that he would love it. I don't know.

So... somebody please tell me that Maggi Hambling is a good choice, and I'm just being a curmudgeonly, old-fashioned poop.

To my old eyes, this is frightening indeed ~ but you must remember that the eppylover prefers nice, real-looking statues that make a person look pretty.

[syelar108]

"...Creatures crawl in search of blood to terrorize y'awls neighborhood... And grizzly ghouls from every tomb are closing in to seal your doom... For no mere mortal can resist the evil of the THRILLER!"

Hmm... I thought that was Medusa I was viewing; rather than Oscar Wilde. I wonder if Ms. Hambling's work was inspired by the "Evil Dead" films? ;D

Yes; I'd much prefer a "pretty" portrait of Brian myself. I guess we can all just hope for the best?

"In the humble opinion of the eppylover, all of the subjects of her artistic endeavors seem to have gone through an initiation of being kicked with steel-toed boots or something. This is just what we need with Brian. Let's erect a monument to his gay-bashings." = LOL Good one Eppylover!!!

[christine~]

Y'know...

Every single one of the John Lennon statues that I can find are dignified, stately, and handsome.

All of the John statues are sculpted in a manner appropriate to attract the respect of the entire general public ~ not just those who appreciate modern or abstract art, or members of the gay-centric crowd that embraces Ms Hambling.

Oh, I hear you say, Brian Epstein was a gay man.

Okay. While we're stereotyping, then, why don't we do the whole bit ~ put a pill bottle in one hand, a magnum of champagne in the other, and slap a yarmulke on his head?

Where are the artists who sculpted the Lennon statues, anyway? What's wrong with them? Do they feel they would lower themselves by immortalizing Brian?

Or do the people in charge of this thing feel that Brian was a bit avant-garde, so his statue should show this?

I just don't know.

And don't get me started on the location or site they seem to be choosing for this ~ "St Lukes at the top of Bold Street"...? Not too heavily-travelled by tourists or even Beatle fans, now, is it?

Should I just sit back and be grateful they're doing anything at all?

The eppylover is determined to see Brian's legacy stand equal to that of Ringo, George, Paul and John. That's where he belongs.

_____________
(For the record, just let me repeat that it's entirely probable that Brian himself would have loved the Hambling touch.)

[crystal041282]

I find her art beautiful and complex. The first I've ever seen of her work was the link to the Oscar Wilde statue you posted which I absolutely adored...to see that second image of Stephen Fry was really rather haunting in a way. He seems to carry a sublime sadness there, his face partially shrouded in shades of blue. I don't know whether you're familiar with his documentary "The Secret Life Of The Manic Depressive", but he studies the disorder and also discusses his struggles with the illness in a way that really lends itself to this sort of portrait being presented to the world; it is unique and it gives us insight into a side of Fry that many people know about, but few people have really seen. I think that to be remarkably beautiful and abstract in a way that touches my soul and is close to my heart.

Having said that, it's probably no way to immortalize someone like Brian Epstein. So many people think of him as dark, mysterious, somehow shrouded from the world. They take that reservation or shyness that they see on film and assume that this (plus pills, homosexual promiscuity and general "creepiness") is what Epstein is all about. As you're well aware, this couldn't be further from the truth.

Fry has the advantage of a pre-existing positive image that the world at large has of him and history will preserve this regardless of a piece of art capturing his more lachrymose character. History has already captured that side of Epstein in various ways.

I would probably adore whatever she does with the statue in the end. But there's more than just that confused, uncertain sadness to Epstein. I'd like to see more comprehensive tribute paid to him.

[christine~]

>> It's probably no way to immortalize someone like Brian Epstein. So many people think of him as dark, mysterious, somehow shrouded from the world.

They take that reservation or shyness that they see on film and assume that this (plus pills, homosexual promiscuity and general "creepiness") is what Epstein is all about. As you're well aware, this couldn't be further from the truth.


Thanks, crys!
When it comes to Brian, I just cannot trust what would come out of this lady ~ everyone would expect one of her blotchyfaced things, and I'm sure she would oblige with one. And then I would *cry* and get blotchyfaced too!