Ariadne sculpture in Cambridge sparks ‘misogyny’ debate

A sculpture depicting a woman covered in a sheet and tied with rope has been branded “misogynistic” by a councillor.

Ariadne (Wrapped) was unveiled outside Cambridge railway station by artist Gavin Turk in 2022.

Green city councillor Jean Glasberg said it was “totally inappropriate” for visitors to the city to be greeted by “a woman tied in a sack”.

However, Mr Turk’s wife, Deborah Curtis, said the sculpture had been “engaging people and their curiosity” and promoted “positive debate”.

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

Concerns were first raised by Green councillor Naomi Bennett during a meeting of Cambridge City Council on 10 October, reported by the Cambridge Independent.

Her council colleague, Ms Glasberg, said it was not the first time she heard criticism about the piece – which she believed should be removed.

“I think about all the women in so many countries who are being veiled and unable to speak out, and about the violence and abuse of women we know is so prevalent,” Ms Glasberg told BBC News.

“It seems wrong to me this sculpture should be here. Is that what we want people to see when they arrive in Cambridge?”.

Ms Glasberg said the artwork was a “contradiction” to how Ariadne was portrayed historically.

“Ariadne was not a trapped, passive victim at all, she was a clever, brave and resourceful woman,” she added.

“She was the person who gave Theseus the thread to get out of the labyrinth and kill the Minotaur.”

The councillor stressed she did not have anything against Mr Turk or his creative freedom, but said she would “question the ethics” of this piece.

A QR code was installed near to the sculpture, linking people who scanned it to a website where its context was explained.

Ms Curtis, who is the creative director of an art charity, said she and her husband were listening to feedback and engaging with critics.

“I think there’s an interesting question as to whether the sculpture stays or not,” she told the BBC.

The charity director believed people looked at public art in a different way to how they did historically.

“In one sense [Mr Turk’s] intention is getting lost in how people are seeing the sculpture and that’s completely fine,” she added.

“There is something good here and I think there is something of public interest about the debate.

“If we can see things or interpret them in a different way to before by having these conversations then that can only be a positive.”

Ms Curtis added the “last thing Gavin would want” was for people to think he was promoting misogynistic beliefs.

She said the fact it was a sculpture and not a real person was a “very important distinction”.

She added: “It’s a journey of transportation, or maybe it’s a story of metamorphosis like a cocoon turning into a butterfly.”