Story behind mysterious new Kent river statue that lights up at night
Walking past the River Stour in Canterbury these days, you may spy the mysterious figure of a woman lying still beneath the rippling waters. This is in fact a newly unveiled statue called Alluvia that has replaced two old sculptures which had lived in the river for over 15 years.
Standing on the bridge by Westgate Towers, look towards the gorgeous Westgate Gardens and peer down. There you will see Alluvia resting on her back on the riverbed opposite the Guildhall, her flowery dress floating around her.
Created by internationally renowned artist Jason deCaires Taylor, who grew up in Canterbury, the statue was commissioned to replace his original Alluvia sculptures which were installed back in 2008. This previous version consisted of two female figures that appeared to be swimming through the Stour, their arms outstretched and their feet crossed.
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After more than a decade in the water, however, the currents took a toll on the twin statues made of cement and recycled glass resin, causing them to deteriorate considerably. Earlier in 2024, the Canterbury Commemoration Society (CCS) commissioned restoration works on the sculptures, but unfortunately, they were deemed ‘beyond repair’.
So, Jason agreed to create a new installation for the river which again takes inspiration from Shakespeare’s Ophelia. The statue also draws reference to Sir John Everett Millais’s celebrated painting of the Hamlet character which depicts Ophelia singing before she drowns in a river.
Jason’s statue and the character of Ophelia are both partly inspired by a real life tragedy that took place in the Kent river nearly 500 years ago. Sir James Hales, a 16th century judge, had risen to prominence under Henry VIII but came under immense pressure during the reign of the Catholic Queen Mary.
A Protestant, he refused to convert to Catholicism and directly opposed the relaxing of laws against religious nonconformity. Ultimately sentenced to imprisonment in the Tower of London, when he was released in 1554 Sir James was struggling with his mental health and tragically drowned himself in the Stour near Canterbury.
Due to suicide being considered a crime at the time, his widow was denied the right to inherit his property, resulting in the very famous Hales v. Petit lawsuit. Sir James’ death by drowning is said to have inspired Ophelia’s demise in Hamlet, while the subsequent legal battle influenced the gravediggers' dialogue that follows her death.
Jason describes Alluvia as referring to the “alluvial deposits of sand left behind by the rise and fall of the river’s water levels…the figure’s posture responds to the river’s flow, reflecting both its ceaseless movement and the invisible barrier of water – like being trapped behind a window”. He added: “as the river swells and recedes with the seasons, and as the light shifts, the sculpture transforms, first through the play of shadows and light, then gradually as reeds and algae form on and around it”.
The new version of the statue has been crafted from recycled glass, LEDs and marine stainless steel. Additionally, the sculpture is lit internally, meaning that at night it glows beneath the currents, keeping it visible at all times of the day.
Jason will formerly gift the statue to the city at an event on Sunday, September 22 which will be attended by members of Canterbury City Council (CCC) and CCS. Cabinet member for culture at CCC, Cllr Charlotte Cornell, said: “We are very happy to accept this amazing piece of artwork from Jason deCaires Taylor and cannot thank him enough for so generously giving over his time to create a new Alluvia for the city.
“Combining contemporary art with heritage is at the forefront of our approach to public art and Alluvia is the perfect piece for this location. This sits alongside the accepting of the gift of the Amy Johnson Bronze in Herne Bay, kindly gifted by the Amy Johnson Project, and is part of our commitment to equal representation of women in the public realm.
“And the Aphra Behn statue, which is another collaboration with the Canterbury Commemoration Society, is expected to join them early in 2025. It’s a really exciting time for public art in the district and we are proud to be working with some great organisations and artists to deliver these.”
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