Antony Gormley sculpture controversy on London university campus over ‘statue’s phallus being erect’

By Hannah Neary, Local Democracy Reporter

A ‘phallic’ Antony Gormley sculpture on a London university campus has been met with backlash from students.

Imperial College London students have slammed a new artwork set to be built on a site in South Kensington, claiming it looks like a man showing his erect penis.

The six-metre structure, called ‘Alert’, was designed by renowned artist Antony Gormley, whose pieces include Gateshead’s ‘Angel of the North’ and ‘Another Place’ at Liverpool’s Crosby beach.

Gormley says the figure is “balancing on the balls of the feet” and “surveying the world”.

But a motion published by the Imperial College Union says the sculpture may “hurt the image and reputation of the college” because of its “obvious” imagery of a person showing an erect penis.

The union said: “While the artist’s intended form may ‘[evoke our] community of scientific research’ the phallic interpretation does not. The name Alert could also be understood as referring to the statue’s phallus being erect.”

A planning report says the sculpture is an “abstract human figure” and will be made from corten steel weighing 67 tonnes.

The piece is expected to be built this summer at the newly-made Dangoor Plaza. The sculpture was a gift to the university from engineering alumnus Brahmal Vasudevan and his wife, Shanthi Kandiah.

In a statement on the university website, Antony Gormley said: “Through the conversion of anatomy into an architectural construction I want to re-assess the relation between body and space.

“Balancing on the balls of the feet while squatting on its haunches and surveying the world around it the attitude of this sculpture is alive, alert and awake.”

An Imperial College London spokesperson said: “Sir Antony Gormley is one of the world’s foremost living artists, and we are grateful to have been gifted one of his iconic sculptures.”

Kensington and Chelsea Council gave Imperial planning permission to build the sculpture in October 2021.

A report by council officers said: “The proposed works are acceptable from a design perspective and would preserve the special architectural and historic interest, character and significance of the listed building and the character and appearance of the conservation area.

“Furthermore, the works would not result in material harm to living conditions and it has been demonstrated that the proposals are unlikely to unduly affect surrounding trees.”