Furious residents demand sculpture of woman wrapped in sheet and tied up with rope is REMOVED over claims ‘misogynistic’ artwork is ‘totally inappropriate’

Furious residents are campaigning for the removal of sculpture where a woman is depicted wrapped in sheet and tied up with a piece of rope.

Ariadne (Wrapped) was unveiled outside Cambridge railway station by artist Gavin Turk in 2022 but has since then been branded a ‘woman tied in a sack’, ‘misogynistic’ and ‘totally inappropriate’ – among other harsh words.

The artwork which depicts the Greek goddess Ariadne, was created to show a sculpture in transit while wrapped in a dust sheet.

But Green councillor Naomi Bennett said in a meeting of Cambridge City Council that she thought the piece should be removed and went so far as to suggest it ‘mainstreamed violence against women’.

Ms Bennett explained: ‘What does it say about our city that visitors to our city are greeted by a statue of a bound woman when they arrive at the main railway station?’

Ms Bennett said: ‘Some people don’t realise it is a bound woman and just think it’s some sort of building work in progress and is unfinished. And others do take a look and are quite upset because Cambridge station, late at night, is not a nice place to be

Ariadne Wrapped’, being unveiled at Station Square, Cambridge Ariadne (Wrapped) outside Cambridge railway station by artist Gavin Turk in 2022

The artwork, which depicts the Greek goddess Ariadne, was created to show a sculpture in transit while wrapped in a dust sheet

She added: ‘It’s not really the impression that I want people to get when they come to Cambridge,’ speaking to local paper the Cambridge Independent.

‘Some people don’t realise it is a bound woman and just think it’s some sort of building work in progress and is unfinished. And others do take a look and are quite upset because Cambridge station, late at night, is not a nice place to be.

‘I just think it’s just another way that violence against women is being mainstreamed. The reason why I got so angry was I’ve just had an appeal from the Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre saying “Please send us some funds, because our caseload has gone up by a third”.

‘I think the artist is regarded as quite hip. And I wonder if Brookgate were trying to be a bit hipster. But I think really the joke is on them, and on us.’

The controversy comes after a 13-foot-high bronze sculpture, The Don, depicting Prince Philip, was removed from nearby Hills Road last month because it did not have planning permission, with the city council calling it ‘possibly the poorest quality work’ ever submitted.

The work of art, which represented Prince Philip in his role as Vice Chancellor of Cambridge University, appeared suddenly in July.

Owners, Unex Ltd, argued the statue didn’t require planning permission because it was not a development.

Some locals at the time branded the removal ‘leftie woke censorship’.

Cambridge resident, Susan Buckingham posted on X: ‘Residents’ action got The Don (not an academic, but the Duke of Edinburgh) removed. Absolutely up for getting rid of ‘Ariadne Wrapped’ – a dreadful misogynistic sculpture.’

Mike Scialom added: ‘The reality is that a city which can’t tolerate a statue of an academic while forcing visitors to see a sculpture of a woman roped and bagged right outside the main station is a city that has lost its moral compass.’

Dara Morefield concluded: ‘I’ve always hated that statue outside the station, without even being aware of its alleged meaning.’

A spokesman for Brookgate, the company that commissioned Ariadne (Wrapped) said: ‘Ariadne (Wrapped) is a sculpture by renowned British artist Gavin Turk.

The 13-foot-high statue in Cambridge depicting Prince Philip which was recently removed. Now another controversial statue in the city is being called to be removed

Cambridge city centre streets near John’s College. Ariadne (Wrapped) shows an object wrapped in a dust sheet as if awaiting unpackaging. Ariadne is metaphorically wrapped in history, context and time, say the artwork commissioners

‘The piece depicts Greek Goddess Ariadne and is inspired by artists Giorgio de Chirico – known for his surrealist works including a similar statue in a piazza, and Christo and Jeanne-Claude, iconic for their large scale landmark installations, often wrapped in fabric.

‘Ariadne (Wrapped) shows an object wrapped in a dust sheet as if awaiting unpackaging. Ariadne is metaphorically wrapped in history, context and time.

‘The cloth forms a key part of the artwork, suggesting that the sculpture is in a constant state of transportation, accompanied by the bustle of passing trains through the station beyond as the figure remains stationary.

‘Brookgate commissioned Ariadne (Wrapped) as a commitment to investing in culture along with the ongoing delivery of the CB1 estate. 

‘The artwork was carefully selected through a series of proposals over several years. This included consultations with the full Cambridge City Council public art panel, and a public art steering group, comprising representatives from the community, local businesses, members of the arts fraternity and council officers.’