Artwork set on fire

An artwork created in solidarity with the people of Ukraine has been almost completely destroyed by fire.

The fire service were called on Sunday morning after the artwork by Duncan McKellar in the corner of Castle Park was set alight.

The piece showing two figures locked in an embrace was made out of foam scaffold pole protectors and wrapped in yellow and blue sheets.

The sculpture made of scaffold pole protectors was set alight on Sunday morning – photo: Martin Booth

The artwork was the second iteration of a piece originally created by McKellar in 2022 which featured one yellow and blue hand grasped together.

It was McKellar’s latest artwork on the site next to the long-empty Norwich Union building which has also seen him create a banana, a mermaid, a cactus, a pineapple, a phoenix and some stars.

“I’m very sad to hear about the destruction of my Ukrainian solidarity sculpture whilst equally surprised that it has been in place for so long,” McKellar told Bristol24/7.

“I have made eight sculptures on this site over the past eight years. Most have referenced contemporary popular culture.

“This artwork, called Unity, has been in place since the Russian invasion in February 2022.

“The sculpture has suffered three attacks in the past which have all had a pro-Russian sentiment.

“The timing of this last attack is particularly unkind as we are three weeks away from the third anniversary. I plan to reinstate a new piece later in the month.”

An exhibition documenting McKellar’s pieces in Castle Park is due to take place in the autumn to raise funds for Amnesty International.

Duncan McKellar’s artwork on Castle Park soon after it was created in 2022 – photo; Martin Booth

The conjoined hands later turned into an embrace called ‘Unity’ – photo: Duncan McKellar

The Norwich Union building and the two other buildings next to it around the remains of the historic St Mary le Port church are due to be demolished to make way for a major new development, with the church tower remaining at the heart of the scheme.

In November, a spokesperson for the developers told Bristol24/7 that “there’s significant work happening in the background, and we should start seeing progress on-site in the new year”.

The corner of Castle Park in October 2024 featuring Duncan McKellar’s artwork and Hazard One’s mural on the side of the Norwich Union building – photo: Google Maps

Main photo: Dave Humphreys

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