Mystery red chicken appears on Bristol statue in centre of city

A French installation artist has added a bright red painted sculpture of a roasted chicken to the statue of a king of England in the centre of Bristol. The statue of William III, in the centre of Queen Square, now has the king holding a chicken on the end of his baton, in the latest bit of guerilla art around the city centre.

Last week, French artist James Colomina began installing his trademark little red sculptures around the city, putting a teddy bear on a swing underneath Gaol Ferry Bridge and a tiny boy with a dunce’s cap sitting above Turbo Island. One chicken appeared initially on the middle spike of the trident held by the statue of Neptune in The Centre in Bristol, and now King William III’s statue has had a chicken added too.

Colomina said the Turbo Island dunce boy was there to ‘represent the stigmatised minorities among us’, adding that he chose Turbo Island to support the campaign to ‘save’ it for the community as it is up for sale.

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“This piece portrays a child wearing a dunce hat, representing those who are isolated, shunned, or those who simply don't fit into society's boxes. It is a symbol for the stigmatised minorities among us," said James.

"Turbo Island is a fond landmark to many Bristolians. This installation on a little piece of tarmac in Stokes Croft takes on a stronger meaning knowing that the 'island' is to be put up for auction.

"The sculpture questions the value we place on these spaces and those who frequent them, while questioning how society can ignore these realities. Turbo Island must be saved,” he added.

It’s not the first time the Queen Square statue of King William III has been altered. Back in 2016, Bristol artist Duncan McKellar adorned the statue’s head with dozens of his familiar bright yellow foam tubes.

In December 2021, the statue was wrapped in ‘fragile’ tape in what was largely seen as a message connected to William III’s involvement alongside Edward Colston in setting up the large-scale transatlantic slave trade.

The statue was created by acclaimed Flemish artist and sculptor John Michael Rysbrack back in 1736, 34 years after his death, and is a Grade I listed monument that’s listed as ‘an outstanding example of Rysbrack’s work’.

The statue has William III as a triumphant Roman Emperor - it’s based on the one of Marcus Aurelius in Rome.

It was erected by the rich city leaders to signify Bristol’s support for the Crown and Parliament Recognition Act of 1689 - which confirmed the so-called Glorious Revolution and cemented England’s status as a constitutional monarchy and democracy.