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Leeds
West Yorkshire Yorkshire & Humberside Willow Terrace Road
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Hermes or The Spirit of EnterpriseMessenger of the gods and god of trade, merchants, and travel, in Roman (Mercurius) and Greek (Ἑρμῆς - Hermes) mythology(Wikipedia: Mercury - Hermes) |
William Chattaway
1958 |
Six metre high sculpture of Hermes, pinned mid-flight on the wall.
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PUBLIC ART ON CAMPUS WILLIAM CHATTAWAY (b.1927) HERMES/THE SPIRIT OF ENTERPRISE 1958, bronze Gift of Stanley Burton, 1983 The flying bronze figure on the east wall of the Roger Stevens building is one of the most striking sculptures on campus. Originally, it was commissioned by the Midland Bank for their London offices in the late 1950s. Chattaway called it Hermes, but his patrons suggested the work be re-named The Spirit of Enterprise because the Greek god Hermes had 'a' number of roles, including that of the guardian of less desirable characters'. In 1983, when the Midland building was sold to developers, it was rumoured that The Spirit of Enterprise was to be sold for scrap. The dilemma hit the national press. Into the breach stepped Chattaway's longstanding patron, Stanley Burton, who purchased the piece for the University. The work, weighing 4.5 tons, arrived on a low loader from London and was installed that June. Chattaway was delighted to see the name of the piece revert to his original title, Hermes. It is a dramatic example of how public art can change and adapt to new settings and new audiences, creating fresh dialogues with its environment. |
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