A D-Day landings memorial funded by the EU has been blasted as hideous by residents[SOLENT]However, critics of the memorial to the pivotal Second World War operation blasted the bare design and said it looks like a series of sculptures had been stolen.
The 15 inch blocks represent the French beaches where Allied forces landed during Operation Overlord on June 6 1944.
It was unveiled outside the D-Day museum in Southsea, Hampshire on Thursday but soon received a backlash from residents on Facebook and local news sites.
One quipped: "Ok, own up, who stole the sculpture?"
Liz Loughlin wrote: "How much? I'm imagining the tumbleweed moment when they unveiled it... awkward!
"It is hideous. Please can someone 'interpret' it for me?"
Lenny Dawkins said: "Looks like five big sugar lumps."
And Mike Luck added: "Moulded blocks of concrete? Woeful!"
The tribute to the Normandy landings features five sand-coloured cubes from a quarry in Caen, France [SOLENT]It is hideous
Wayne Chilcott said he did not think the connection with the landings, which left thousands dead on both sides, was clear enough.
He added: "To keep the memory alive we need children to understand these sculptures so they can carry history forward.
"'Fire square blocks, daddy?' For me it's too abstract."
The cubes are meant to represent the five beaches with codenames Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword in France and each weigh 107kg.
The top of the stones has been carved with a line which represents the Normandy coastline.
However, the memorial has received support from war veteran who were involved in Operation Overlord.
Frank Rosier, 88, was 18-years-old when he arrived on the Normandy beaches.
Critics of the memorial to the pivotal Second World War operation blasted the bare design [SOLENT]"Some of these statues get eroded by bad weather. This is such a simple thing.
"The more simple, the better. If you look at the Cenotaph, it's a simple statue.
"The 70th anniversary is the same as the 60th anniversary to me. All I am thinking about is those 18 and 19-year-olds [who died].
"I will be thinking of them. I still know their names. Sometimes it brings tears to my eyes."
Veteran Arthur Bailey, 90, added: "It's very nice and well thought out."
Artist Oliver Merkin, who created the memorial with Portsmouth architectural firm Deer Park Alpha, said the tribute encouraged reflection.
He said: "D-Day was such a unique event, emotionally almost beyond comprehension to us some 70 years later.
"We do not wish to prescribe what veterans or visitors will feel about the piece.
"The abstract nature of the artwork aims to encourage reflection on what D-Day means to each individual."
Billy Ansell, Portsmouth City Council's European project co-ordinator, added: "This was a joint project with Caen and it was vital the artwork represented both cities.
"This is a modern but complementary addition to the D-Day museum, which offers a moment for visitors to quietly look and contemplate the actions of those involved in the landings."
No comments:
Post a Comment