Liberation past and future is concept behind 75th anniversary statue

Plans were received by the Development & Planning Authority on 22 January.

If accepted, the statue will be installed outside the Guernsey Information Centre on the North Esplanade.

College of Further Education lecturer and artist Mark Cook designed and sculpted the model.

‘I feel privileged to be doing this. There aren’t many things you can do which will outlast you. If approved, this will hopefully be around for centuries,’ Mr Cook said.

Education, Sport & Culture approached Mr Cook after the success of his donkey and foal in the Market.

‘ESC approached me in May 2019 and sculpting started on this in September. We worked within a rough brief of a figurative familial sculpture, although could develop this idea in family-oriented parameters,’ said Mr Cook.

‘There’s been a short turnaround – currently it’s at the foundry being cast.’

While details are kept well-guarded, more can be said now plans have been submitted.

‘It’s not about secrecy, but to have a sense of the wow factor when unveiling on the day,’ said Mr Cook.

Two life-sized adults and children will feature, in traditional and contemporary dress respectively.

‘Bronze is durable, can withstand weather, and is timeless. We didn’t want to use anything that wouldn’t fit in,’ said Mr Cook.

‘We have a Liberation memorial to the past – this celebrates the present and future.’

Liberation 75, Past Present and Future is the working title.

‘The original was sent to the UK, where it’s cast in bronze using a lost wax process. It should be back on island around the end of March,’ Mr Cook said.

‘Getting it to the UK was a big problem. Normally the foundry would collect it, but since we are on an island we had to ship it,’ said Mr Cook.

‘When it arrived it was mostly fine, but needed some mending.’

It is designed to be an interactive piece, as people will be able to hold hands with the figures.

These ‘Instagram-able moments’ can broadcast Guernsey’s local heritage and inform widely about the Occupation.

An exhibition and documentary entirely created by GCFE students will be unveiled concurrently at Candie Museum.

‘Getting the students involved is educational and simultaneously shows the creation process to the public,’ Mr Cook said, ‘the exhibition is entirely theirs. With summer footfall we are expecting 6,000 people will attend.’

Second year art and design student, Brandon Carberry, 21, is co-organising an exhibition with Sydney Le Gallais.

‘The display I’m putting on with Sydney will be the biggest thing I’ve done so far,’ said Mr Carberry.

Undertaking this task is a voluntary addition to the students’ existing course.

‘Mark approached me to make a documentary and I thought it would be a good thing to do,’ Mr Carberry said.

‘We’ll show the sculpture evolving, the casting and modelling processes, details and the original model. This week and next week I’m making a stop motion animation.’

Despite the extra work, they were grateful to be involved in the piece.

‘I feel privileged as well, and glad that Mark approached us. I’m glad for the experience and that I am trusted with the documentary for this piece,’ said Mr Carberry. ‘I can’t wait to see it all come together.’

n Consultation on the planning application ends on Friday 14 February.