New public art sculpture mocked for 'pile of poo' design
The shelter - intended to be a periwinkle - has been installed near Chichester
Last updated 20th Nov 2024
A newly-installed public art sculpture near Chichester is being roundly criticised - for its unfortunately resemblance to the 'pile of poo' emoji.
The woven wooden shelter was installed at Earnley Viewpoint in the RSPB's Medmerry Nature Reserve.
Its designers, Two Circles Design, say it was intended to look like a periwinkle, or sea snail - but residents have taken to social media to express different views following its unveiling at the weekend.
One described it has having come from a 'really big dog', while others questioned the amount of taxpayers' money spent on installing the artwork.
The project was funded through the Creative Spark creative partnership, involving Chichester District Council, Chichester Festival Theatre and Pallant House Gallery.
John Cross, the council's cabinet member for culture, sport and place, said the design intended to draw on the site's Bronze Age and Middle Age history:
"Evidence was discovered of several circular Bronze Age roundhouses and burial grounds — dating from 1,100 BC — on the site, along with the remains of a medieval wooden 'kettle' to funnel and trap fish in a weir at low tide using wickerwork fences.
"This beautiful sculpture is woven from Sussex and Somerset willow and signifies both a glance back to the past and an acknowledgement of this new incarnation for the Medmerry landscape."
The periwinkle also features a 'cloud window' silhouette of a Marsh harrier.
Two other art pieces were unveiled at the reserve earlier this year, as part of a creative art series to celebrate the site and its significance within the local community.