Some people say it is subjective, while others describe it as a ‘monstrosity’. But children at a school in north Wales have been left terrified by a cackling art sculpture that is on display in their grounds.
The ‘Smirking man’ piece, a 43ft-tall giant inflatable pink man squatting on all fours by Yue Minjun, has been staged at Ruthin School in north Wales, as part of the Ruthin International Arts Festival.
The cackling sculpture has caused quite a stir among locals, who woke up to the bizarre sight on July 8.
Some have branded it as ‘ugly’, ‘hideous’ and ‘not art’ while others say they really dislike ‘the sickly pink colour of the piece’ as it is frightening the children.
Residents have also compared it to the Trump baby blimp by Matt Bonner, which was flown over Parliament Square in London in 2018 during a protest over his planned visit to the UK.
One woman said: ‘We live halfway up the hill in Llanbedr and we can see his bum from there.’
Another woman was also deeply critical of it, saying: ‘You call that art? Oh please, he looks constipated. If this is how he feels about himself, maybe keep it to himself. Monstrosity.’
(Credit: Annamarie Taylor/Daily Post Wales)
A former teacher meanwhile remarked: ‘I thought it might be a bouncy castle that you climb into through the back passage…’
Art is always subjective though, with one man saying he liked the piece. ‘It makes people laugh and joke about it,’ he said.
Announcing the artwork, alongside an image of Mr Minjun with the artwork, Ruthin School said: ‘You may have noticed a rather large, inflatable visitor to Ruthin School last week.
‘Standing around 13 metres high, the inflatable art installation was created for the Ruthin International Arts Festival by Yue Minjun,’ with a link to the festival’s website.
The festival says it is designed to ‘creatively enliven the historic North Wales town of Ruthin as a dynamic living arts scene’.
It is the first time the Ruthin International Arts Festival has featured in the town and runs from June 28 to July 28.
Minjun created an artwork in 2007 called Execution which sold at auction for £2.9million.
The artwork across the festival is designed to ‘evoke genuine emotions, provoke thoughtful reflection or spark a visceral response’.
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