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A planning application has been submitted to the council by Oxford University which seeks to unveil the masterpiece outside the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter in Woodstock Road as part of an exhibition.
This comes as the Andrew Wiles Building, a university mathematical building, is hosting a gallery and wishes to include the piece just outside the building on a grassy courtyard for a year.
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The materiality of the art includes aluminium, hand rolled glass, and oak.
Independent Oxford Alliance councillor David Henwood said: “Current planning rules mean applications cannot be failed due to ‘poor design’ but should the rules change the artist might need another job.
“If the chancellor of Oxford University is looking for an artist with great design skills, look no further than our local schools and colleges and provide an opportunity to local talent.
“I’ve seen better designs inside a chocolate Kinder egg.
“Thank god it’s not coming out of the public purse.”
Other councillors, such as James Fry, who represents the Walton Manor ward where the artwork would be based, took a more positive view.
Mr Fry, who studied Mathematics at Oxford University, said: “The Mathematical Institute, named in honour of Andrew Wiles, one of Oxford’s pre-eminent mathematicians, is already famous for working hard to make mathematical concepts familiar to a wider audience.
“I think that the proposal to place, what the artist calls an investigation of ‘the radiant geometry of the five Platonic solids’, with repeated combinations of the same basic shapes, is a wonderful way to illustrate the links between maths and art to the general public.”
Mr Fry congratulated the Maths Institute on “its latest initiative to bridge the divide between dry academic theory and art”.
City councillor Susanna Pressel thought the art design was “intriguing”.
She added: “It seems that they have already started installing this artwork, which is not good.
“However, since it is going to be temporary and it’s quite tucked away, I doubt anyone will object.”
Deputy council leader Anna Railton said: “I’m a big fan of upgrading and having pride in the public realm, which public art does.
“This is certainly quite ‘mathsy’ and in keeping with the department it will be next to.
“I’ve got some concerns it’s a bit pointy if someone tripped and fell onto it but otherwise I think it looks great.”
Liberal Democrat group leader Dr Chris Smowton added: “I have no objection – in my view the council and councillors should steer clear of trying to impose our particular taste in art.”
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About the author
Noor is the Local Democracy Reporter for Oxfordshire who covers political stories from across the county.
She began working as a journalist in Oxford in September 2023 having graduated from the University of Oxford.
Noor was trained at the News Associates journalism school and can be found on X through the handle @NoorJQurashi
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