A Mysterious new statue in the river Stour depicting a young woman lying down has created a local debate as many in the community feel that it is disturbing and insensitive to those who have suffered personal losses. 

The statue which can be found in Westgate gardens, Canterbury was commissioned to replace two pre-existing statues which were eroded due to the harsh natural conditions of the river Stour. 

Since its installation on Thursday the 12th of September 2024, it has been the subject of many debates and discussions which question whether the sculpture should just be recognized as an inspired piece of artwork or whether the topics that it explores are too sensitive for the thought provoking statue to be displayed for all the public to see. 

What inspired the art? 

The original statues were named the Alluvia Sculptures and were created by the internationally recognized artist Jason deCaires Taylor who drew inspiration from Ophelia – a Shakespearean character from the play Hamlet who in a state of madness commits suicide by drowning herself. 

The new sculpture was also created by Jason deCaires Taylor and has adopted the name Alluvia but differs from its predecessors as it has been formed from recycled glass, LED’s, marine stainless steel and also contains environmental sensors. 

Jason is an extremely talented sculpturer who has over the years created countless statues that are constructed to live in water – whether that be the sea or riverbeds. 

His work is designed to not only provoke emotional responses but to benefit the ecosystems and habitats that they are placed in by being constructed by bio receptive and pH neutral materials that are designed for marine life. 

His artwork aims to bring awareness to our environmental crisis while also telling a story about humans and the way we interact with nature. 

Why has there been backlash? 

Many simply admire the beautiful statue treating it as a piece of art created to evoke emotions and make people think, and many tourists have enjoyed looking at it. 

However, there has been backlash by some of the public as they believe that because of the story that inspired it, the statue is triggering and insensitive to those who have tragically suffered the loss of a loved one due to drowning. 

During the day the Statue appears more ethereal with a white body littered with colourful flowers, however when the river stour is doused in darkness and the LED's inside Alluvia come alive, the sculpture lets off an eerie glow which many find more than a bit disconcerting as it mimics the effect of a dead body.

While being beautiful, the sad story that the sculpture tells covers some heavy topics which rightfully, not everyone wants to discuss due to personal reasons. 

Many think that the Alluvia should be displayed somewhere less public so that those who would rather not view it do not feel as triggered by its presence.

So, how would you feel about seeing the statue of a young woman at the bottom of the riverbed - disturbed, or moved?