Guernsey Press

Remodelling cuts cost of Hugo statue

A PROPOSED statue of Victor Hugo on a bench has been redesigned to reduce the cost by around £25,000.

Published
Local artist Mark Cook with a model of the sculpture of Victor Hugo which it is hoped will be turned into a statue near the Town Church. A remodelling has reduced the cost, but more money is needed. (Picture by Shaun Shackleton, 22269451)

Fundraising is continuing with the intention of unveiling it next spring.

Local artist Mark Cook, who created the donkey and foal statue in Market Square, has come up with the design of Victor Hugo and an octopus on a bench, representing the book Hugo wrote in Guernsey, Toilers of the Sea.

With the original design entirely cast in bronze, a remodel of the statue with just Victor Hugo and the octopus cast in bronze sat on a bench of granite and steel brought the total cost of the statue down to around £50,000.

Guernsey Arts Commission chairman Trevor Wakefield said: ‘The design was remodelled in spring of this year. It takes a few attempts but eventually we come up with a design that works.’

He said that the granite of the bench represents the Roches Douvres, the rocks on which the ship in the novel was wrecked, and the steel represents the ship itself.

The Arts Commission had been speaking to potential donors to raise funds for the statue to be cast and erected by the Town Church where Victor Hugo would look across the harbour towards France.

‘Everybody we speak to is very positive about the idea,’ said Mr Wakefield.

‘We have enough money to get Victor Hugo cast, but we still need more for the octopus.’

The casting of Victor Hugo will commence this summer.

Coinciding with the reopening of Hauteville House, the statue is targeted to be revealed in spring of next year.

n To contribute to the funds for the statue, islanders can visit www.arts.gg and go to the man on the bench project for all details. Leaflets are also available from Candie Museum.