World famous artist Sir Antony Gormley has been commissioned to create a striking statue for Plymouth鈥檚 waterfront which is expected to act as a magnet for visitors.
The man behind the Angel of the North, near Gateshead, and Another Place installation, near Liverpool, will this time be creating a 12ft tall human-like figure which will stand on the historic West Hoe Pier.
Named LOOK II, the 鈥渁nthropomorphic鈥 cast iron sculpture will be unveiled in May 2020, to help commemorate Mayflower 400.
The 400th anniversary of the Mayflower鈥檚 voyage of discovery is expected to attract nearly six million visitors to Plymouth in 2020 and establish the city as a key draw for visitors.
LOOK II is also being created to mark the opening of the Ocean City鈥檚 拢40million gallery and museum building: The Box.
The team at The Box commissioned Sir Antony and his work comprises 22 individual iron blocks that have been cast as one single element to create a twice life-size figure.
It is is designed to celebrate the extensive labour and craftsmanship that goes into working with natural materials such as iron, and draws parallels between the aertist鈥檚 practice and Plymouth鈥檚 legacy as a naval city of significant international importance, say The Box鈥檚 chiefs.
And by placing an artwork outside of the gallery as part of The Box鈥檚 opening programme, LOOK II will provide a 鈥渟triking and thought-provoking鈥 sculpture in the public realm by an artist of international significance, commemorating the opening of The Box and Mayflower 2020.
The idea behind placing the 鈥減rofoundly engaging sculptural work鈥 on the other side of the city centre from The Box complex is to link Plymouth Sound with the new attraction and provide a source of inspiration for Plymotians and visitors.
Sir Antony said: 鈥淚 am delighted by the site and honoured that this work has been commissioned by Plymouth to look out over the sea that has played such an important part in forming the outward-looking character of these islands.鈥
More about Plymouth's waterfront
The Box has also commissioned leading Portuguese installation artist Leonor Antunes who will create a fused glass design for the East Window of St Luke鈥檚 Church to be installed in February 2020.
Nigel Hurst, head of contemporary arts at The Box said: 鈥淭he Box is privileged to be working with two such important artists as part of its opening programme.
鈥淏oth make work of rigorous material integrity that investigates human-kind鈥檚 relationship with the world around us, and how craft, design, fabrication and manufacture are intrinsic to our history.
鈥淭hese two commissions will not only form a key part of Making It, one of The Box鈥檚 inaugural exhibitions, but also provide the city of Plymouth with lasting legacies from the launch of The Box and Mayflower 400 commemorations.
鈥淎ntony Gormley鈥檚 Look II and Leonor Antunes鈥 window for St. Luke鈥檚 Church both provide compelling reasons to celebrate life in this unique city and to visit Plymouth.鈥
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Council leader Tudor Evans, Labour, said, 鈥淭hese artists are known around the globe and are creating incredible work for the Box, for Plymouth. Not only does this work fit neatly with our history, these pieces will play a role in Plymouth鈥檚 future and become part of the city鈥檚 fabric.鈥
Shadow leader Cllr Ian Bowyer, Conservative, added,: 鈥淭he Box is going to be brilliant and this latest announcement is just adding to the sense of momentum building for Plymouth.
鈥淎rt and culture brings in people, brings in money and helps the city flourish, but it is about more than that. These commissions celebrate our past, our present and Plymouth鈥檚 unique position in the world.鈥
