New statue of girl on horse unveiled - looks good?

Nodin · 17-09-2010 08:00PM

Morlar wrote: »

Why does a piece of art designed to be placed in a historically working class have to be one of such a negative stereotype ?

And again - why is a working class person riding a horse a negative stereotype? I can think of a number of stereotypes attached to ballymun, and SFA of them have to do with an interest in equine pursuits.

Lone Stone · 17-09-2010 08:02PM

I think a statue of someone trying to rise above a pile of ****e would have been more fitting as anyone i know from ballymun works there ass of to not been seen as a track suit wearing person who rides around like a nacker on a horse. Id be fairly insulted if that was built where i live and then told it represents the people in my area.

My name is URL · 17-09-2010 08:03PM

What's actually more depressing.. a statue of a girl on a horse or the notion that anyone who dares to wear a tracksuit is a lower form of life?

I hope the statues of tomorrow aren't as pretentiously snobby as the people of today

prinz · 17-09-2010 08:03PM

Nodin wrote: »

And again - why is a working class person riding a horse a negative stereotype?

You'd have to know the frequent conditions and state of the horses tbh and the fact that for many it represents an alternative for school etc.

Nodin · 17-09-2010 08:05PM

Some certainly are in a bad way and for some it certainly is. However to tar all with the same brush is to create the negative stereotype you're on about.

Terry · 17-09-2010 08:15PM

Gummy Panda wrote: »

provoke discussion and debate about a skanger on a horse?

This guy needs less funding.

fonecrusher1 wrote: »

I say we take off & nuke the entire site from orbit.

Its the only way to be sure.

xzanti wrote: »

She looks like Anto's mott.

Aidric wrote: »

lol

starbelgrade wrote: »

Ballymun - like most working class areas in the 80s & early 90s - used to be full of scobies in tracksuits riding horses.

prinz wrote: »

There's still a few of them about.

recylingbin wrote: »

Let's name it:

Beth on the geegee.

squod wrote: »

Tracki an the knacki

IvySlayer wrote: »

She should of been wearing pyjamas

Copper23 wrote: »

I wonder if it has a slogan like "juicy" on the arse pockets there for all eternity?

The above shows that quite a lot of people already have a negative view of Ballymun, and don't like seeing working class people on their own high horses.

Wealth based status: Turning people into complete **** since the dawn of civilisation.

Note: The above comment is not directed towards those I quoted. It's more a social commentary than personal abuse. An observation on the social class structure that the Irish people deny exists, if you will.

prinz · 17-09-2010 08:18PM

Nodin wrote: »

Some certainly are in a bad way and for some it certainly is. However to tar all with the same brush is to create the negative stereotype you're on about.

The stereotype is already there. The majority of locals I know in Ballymun want to distance themselves from that. Then some plonker goes and wants to put a 16ft statue on Main Street. Like a 16ft stature of a gangland killer in Limerick. There's plenty of thngs they could build a statue of or ways to spend the money to improve the area

A better idea would be to construct proper facilities for horses, and education for their care, even training courses for people who would like to work longterm with horses in Ballymun Comp school for students interested.

Darlughda · 17-09-2010 08:19PM

prinz wrote: »

The ideal doesn't have to be corporate or suit or whatever. There are far more constructive things to symbolise Ballymun than a trackie on a horse if you want to go down that route, besides idealising that stereotype. Not to mention better ways to spend the cash.

I know a lot of people would love to indulge in the romantic notion of the younguns from the 'mun on their horses etc doing nobody any harm. I am living in the area and have seen a few of these horses up close, although thankfully the numbers seem to be decreasing, and they are often in an awful sorry state, of course you don't see that reflected in the statue.

Yes. The situation regarding the horses is really horrific, and no idealiasing of that romantic notion is needed. Nonetheless, there are people from Ballymun who are dedicated to this issue of the horses, and feel passionate about it and identify it with being part of Ballymun.

I'm not sure about your idea of 'constructive' ways to symbolise Ballymun. An artist's job is to to reflect the reality (imho) not to attempt an ideal version of what some people want that to be.

prinz · 17-09-2010 08:19PM

Terry wrote: »

The above shows that quite a lot of people already have a negative view of Ballymun, and don't like seeing working class people on their own high horses.

I live round the corner from Ballymun Comprehensive. I have a realistic view of Ballymun.

prinz · 17-09-2010 08:21PM

Darlughda wrote: »

The situation regarding the horses is really horrific, and no idealiasing of that romantic notion is needed. .. An artist's job is to to reflect the reality (imho) not to attempt an ideal version of what some people want that to be.

Does the horse in the statue look horrific to you? Some reality.

Darlughda · 17-09-2010 08:24PM

prinz wrote: »

Does the horse in the statue look horrific to you? Some reality.

WTF? Are you grasping at straws now? I was talking about the illtreatment of horses not the one in the statue!

squod · 17-09-2010 08:27PM

Terry wrote: »

The above shows that quite a lot of people already have a negative view of Ballymun, and don't like seeing working class people on their own high horses.

Wealth based status: Turning people into complete **** since the dawn of civilisation.

Note: The above comment is not directed towards those I quoted. It's more a social commentary than personal abuse. An observation on the social class structure that the Irish people deny exists, if you will.

terry needs to come down off his high horse.............

Poly · 17-09-2010 08:29PM

It's a great piece, reminds me of this:

http://www.photographyireland.net/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=27706&start=0

Coriolanus · 17-09-2010 08:29PM

It's better than the fúcking spire.

prinz · 17-09-2010 08:32PM

Darlughda wrote: »

WTF? Are you grasping at straws now? I was talking about the illtreatment of horses not the one in the statue!

If artist reflected reality the horse in the statue would look terrible. You can't claim the artist reflected reality, then acknowledge the horific state of the wild horses up around here.

Copper23 · 17-09-2010 08:34PM

Terry wrote: »

The above shows that quite a lot of people already have a negative view of Ballymun, and don't like seeing working class people on their own high horses.

Wealth based status: Turning people into complete **** since the dawn of civilisation.

Note: The above comment is not directed towards those I quoted. It's more a social commentary than personal abuse. An observation on the social class structure that the Irish people deny exists, if you will.

It was only a joke but in fairness it does feed into a stereotype that the people from there themselves say they don't want to be associated with.

Girl on tracksuit on a horse gives the impression of tinkers. I don't care what it was intended to mean, it just isn't the best thing they could have chosen to give the best representation of the area in all fairness to them.

Darlughda · 17-09-2010 08:34PM

prinz wrote: »

If artist reflected reality the horse in the statue would look terrible. You can't claim the artist reflected reality, then acknowledge the horific state of the wild horses up around here.

Yes, but a fine horse would illustrate the fact that this is a fine, noble warrior queen on its back. Regardless if she is wearing a tracksuit or pyjamas. Don't you see??

Terry · 17-09-2010 08:36PM

prinz wrote: »

The stereotype is already there. The majority of locals I know in Ballymun want to distance themselves from that. Then some plonker goes and wants to put a 16ft statue on Main Street. Like a 16ft stature of a gangland killer in Limerick. There's plenty of thngs they could build a statue of or ways to spend the money to improve the area

Seriously?
You are comparing a statue of a girl on a horse to a murderer. Think about that for a few minutes.

A better idea would be to construct proper facilities for horses, and education for their care, even training courses for people who would like to work longterm with horses in Ballymun Comp school for students interested.

Can't argue with that.
Pointless works of art are, well, pointless.
While I do believe that this reflects the reality of the situation, I still believe that all art or this type is pointless.

Someone else mentioned something about people aspiring to be a tracksuited horse rider because of this statue. I'd disagree.
There's a statue in Leixlip of some moistened bint wielding a scimitar. I doubt the local kids have aspirations of stabbing people later in life.

storm2811 · 17-09-2010 08:36PM

prinz wrote: »

The stereotype is already there. The majority of locals I know in Ballymun want to distance themselves from that. Then some plonker goes and wants to put a 16ft statue on Main Street. Like a 16ft stature of a gangland killer in Limerick.

The stereotype of what?That all people in tracksuits are knackers?

Poly wrote: »

It's a great piece, reminds me of this:

http://www.photographyireland.net/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=27706&start=0

I love that one.

prinz · 17-09-2010 08:43PM

Darlughda wrote: »

Yes, but a fine horse would illustrate the fact that this is a fine, noble warrior queen on its back. Regardless if she is wearing a tracksuit or pyjamas. Don't you see??

A fine, noble warrior queen?

I see the people of Ballymun deserve better tbh.

Terry wrote: »

Seriously?
You are comparing a statue of a girl on a horse to a murderer. Think about that for a few minutes.

You know what I meant ffs.

storm2811 wrote: »

The stereotype of what?That all people in tracksuits are knackers?

Where did I say that? Again, you'd need to understand the people and the area IMO. The horse-kids around here would be assumed to be wild, uncontrolled, antisocial, bunking off school, maltreating the animals, goodfornothing gurriers.

The vast majority of the kids in the area aren't. Want to symbolise the young people of Ballymun - this doesn't do it.

dotsman · 17-09-2010 08:43PM

I think it's a great idea. It will warn tourists that they have strayed into the wrong part of town. A bit like some ancient tribe putting skulls on a spike to warn off outsiders.

Now, if she had a needle sticking out of her arm -that would have been brilliant.

digme · 17-09-2010 08:45PM

prinz wrote: »

Feckin' disaster. Stupid looking yoke. Would be better off showing the girl getting her Leaving Cert or something. Surely there was something better to illustrate the new Ballymun?

it's called culture.

orourkeda · 17-09-2010 08:45PM

PrincessLola wrote: »

I really like it. A stereotype? Maybe, but the truth is many Dubliners do wear tracksuits on a regular basis. The point they are missing is that this statue is not intended to judge the girl's clothing but simply represent what is a reality not a glossed over view. Like the article said it is intended to provoke discussion, it is up to us to interpret it.

Nice to see even tracksuits haven't arrived in rural Ireland yet.

squod · 17-09-2010 08:46PM

http://blog.dv4.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/new-pic-1-225x300.jpg

Look at the statue again. Doesn't strike me that either of them (horse or girl) are happy. Why would he pick a tracksuited girl on a horse for his statue anyway? It's a huge put-down, a p1ss take by the artist.

Sardonicat · 17-09-2010 08:48PM

So, ther director of the "Axis Arts Centre" commisioned it? Ah yes, as a Social Science graduate I have expereince of this kind of middle class patronising tripe. "Lets bring "culture" to "these people", that is, "culture" as defined by us, they need telling what it is, by middle class prats like us who get funding for telling people who already know what they need what it is they need but require a centre like ours in case what they actually need isn't what we say it is and I make a very good living out of it, thank you very much!"

And in this case the best thing for this woefully neglected and marginalised area is the promotion of debate.

orourkeda · 17-09-2010 08:49PM

Art me bollix

Einhard · 17-09-2010 08:50PM

hada hada any milk for the baby missus...

Lone Stone · 17-09-2010 08:53PM

Someone should go down there and place large piece's of sculpted horse crap around the base of the statue

Coriolanus · 17-09-2010 08:54PM

Sardonicat wrote: »

So, ther director of the "Axis Arts Centre" commisioned it? Ah yes, as a Social Science graduate I have expereince blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

You lost me when you used Social Science graduate and experience in the same sentence, sorry. :pac:

Dyr · 17-09-2010 08:55PM

I'm a ballymunner, I hope the sculptor responsible die's roaring, preferably in a fire. Along with his buddies the barons of ballymun in BRL and axxis.

C**ts

New statue of girl on horse unveiled - looks good?

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