Pulling up in the car park that is situated right opposite ‘Another Place’ on that cold, drizzly first day of December was surreal. It was like a scene from 1970’s Doctor Who, and I was almost convinced that these weathered and barnacled figures were about to come to life at any moment. Or that perhaps one was to be standing behind me at all times, just out of eyesight – their forms in my peripheral vision until Liverpool and that beach were only a distant memory.
They just stood.
Looking out across that overcast, drizzly beach was definitely a bucket list tick. Anthony Gormley’s art installation is mesmerising. The 100 figures stand sparsely apart from each other. They are not crowding each other so it is like they are standing together, but alone, which could represent anyone’s place in this world:
One enterprise, one body among a whole world of others, yet no one can quite get in to your world, however hard they might try. We are are all apart yet creating communities and sharing with others because that is what we do, but no one can ever know our secrets, stand in our shoes or experience our journeys. We have the desire for it with this inherent community spirit, and we always have the temptation to try to know another person inside out, even though it is futile.
Despite this, we remain near to each other, just close enough to brush the surface of each other’s unique worlds, while we labour to navigate our own on a daily basis.
This is my perception of the installation and what I took from it and I find the ideas and emotions it evokes really interesting.
After a bit of research, I’ve found that the sculptures are based on Anthony Gormley’s own naked body and that he wanted to represent the complexities we face individually, and universally, regarding emigration. Standing iron strong and unfaltering can be seen as defiance and a conveyance of hope that another place can offer future happiness for those that are forced to move around this world.
The drive to Liverpool was typically British with incessant rain battering the windows and the windscreen wipers causing a frenzy. The breaks in conversation almost lulling me into a hypnotic trance as the droplets created a rhythm. No fish and chips were eaten from this car though despite going towards the sea.
It wasn’t like my trip to Hornsea during a very sodden day in early May a year ago where me and my friend sat and pawed at fish and chips from trays as we parked up by the sea, wound up the windows and allowed the eager chunks to batter all around us.
No, instead this trip on the 1st December saw me forget my umbrella, wear a coat with no hood and be forced to swing by a Liverpudlian Aldi on the city outskirts where I would waste money on a new brolly when I have four at home and devour a packet sarnie to satisfy my hunger pangs. True Yorkshire style.
As we approached the centre of Liverpool, the hints of the Mersey were there as the seagulls encircled the sky above and those familiar brown tourist attraction signs, particularly focusing on places connected with The Beatles, were coming into view.
There is something about visiting a beach in a season other than Summer, in weather other than radiant, under a sky other than clear blue. The dramatic scenes you can experience are captivating, the turbulence of the clouds makes you feel like a tiny speck, the catastrophe of the waves make you question your significance.
All kinds of feelings and emotions surface for me, and the need to be cosy and cocooned in a big coat like a suit of armour against the elements become some of my most memorable travel moments. Engaging with the elements, protecting yourself, sheltering yourself.
Don’t get me wrong, I do prefer a sunny beach!
Those Mediterranean moments; the smell of sun-cream, the waft of seafood and the sweet sting of ice-cream on the tongue are second to none really. Although my Mum actually prefers a wintry beach and dramatic coast line. I think it makes her feel safe being wrapped up warm, drinking a hot drink and devouring steaming fish and chips as the elements are in turmoil around her. I think it intensifies her bookish imagination.
The tide was out that day leaving us plenty of space to explore the statues safely on foot and marvel at the ones that were stood up tall cutting a complete figure and the ones that were half-sunken into the sand. This installation has been there since Summer 2005 now so that every figure is sea-weathered, rain-battered and wind-swept and it is interesting to see how the cast iron is affected over time.
You can see here that this one has been completely overrun by marine life and is covered in moss-green and white barnacles; perfect habitation for little sea creatures as the daily interaction with the sea and the determined coastal elements have made sure of. And I couldn’t resist a pucker up!
This one, however, is still its fantastic original brown, slimed green a little in parts, it’s face morphed and the characteristics almost unrecognisable. It makes me curious to see how this will look in another few years.
I love these ones on the podiums, standing tall and like the Kings of Crosby and Blundellsands. The latter place being adjacent to Crosby with the eponymous train station in between the two serving both areas. It was interesting getting more of an insight into Liverpool and the outskirts, because it is universally travelled to and recognised for being the birth place of one of the most famous bands of all time ‘The Beatles.’
So, for me, one of the greatest things about ‘Another Place’ is the fact that it draws tourists to another place (excuse the pun) in Liverpool and puts it on the map for another reason.
We didn’t stay too long in Crosby and Blundellsands; walking away from the beach back towards the road side, past the swathes of marshland, brought us to a little area named ‘The Serpentine’ which notably was home to a central Victorian drinking fountain dating back to 1881, as detailed by the inscription. I was straight over to explore and photograph! I love seeing little features like this in unassuming areas and though we didn’t do a great deal much more exploring of Crosby that afternoon (rather succumbing to the lure of Beatles Mania in the city centre) some research has since educated me a little more.
I discovered that the fountain is Grade II listed and that Blundellsands and Crosby, as detailed in the above linked article, ‘have a long association with the patron Saint Nicholas whom became the model for Santa Claus.’ Apparently he is also the patron saint of sailors which further embellishes the strong connection between the Crosby/Blundellsands community and this saint, even in the modern day, with the dominant presence of the Parish Church and the school, both named St Nicholas.
I honestly would not have expected to visit a small coastal area of Liverpool and expect any connections to Santa Claus, and I have found this very interesting to learn as I had no idea that St Nicholas had any nautical connections.
Not everyone would choose to spend time on a rainy beach in Liverpool on the first day of December, but if you enjoy art, interesting weather with moody scenes and coastal towns rich in history, then this is an experience you won’t want to miss out on.
People come from all over the world to visit this art piece, and it is not hard to see why.
