Manchester closes the door on another piece of failed public art. In this case, the sculpture–B of the Bang–was faulty. That set off a cascade of disenchantment, according to the Telegraph:
Standing 180ft high, its name came from sprinter Linford Christie’s comment that when starting a race he always went on the “B of the Bang”. But problems began within two weeks of its launch – and continued throughout its short life. Its giant spikes were deemed to be faulty and there were fears they would fall off and spear passers by. The sculpture is close to Premiership club Manchester City’s Eastlands stadium.
Despite a plea by leading British sculpture artist Anthony Gormley to save it, Manchester City councillors decided it would be taken down and mothballed. Councillors baulked at the cost of fixing the artwork – £2m to £3m, though the council said it may be re-erected at a future, unspecified date. The bodies which funded the sculpture won a £1.7m settlement at the High Court in London last November against the Thomas Heatherwick Studio and the sub-contractors employed by them to put the sculpture up.
B of the Bang £1.4m Sculpture Binned by Council (Telegraph)
