20 May 2023 , 12:11
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A protester wearing a Spider-Man mask attacked a statue with a hammer and chisel because it is said the artist sexually abused two of his daughters and sisters.
Police were called in the early hours of the morning to reports a person had climbed onto scaffolding currently around the statue, on the front of the BBC’s Broadcasting House in central London, while it undergoes repair work.
The Grade II listed statue depicts Prospero and Ariel from Shakespeare’s The Tempest but Eric Gill, the artist, is understood to have sexually abused two of his daughters, sisters and family dog.
The man, dressed as superhero Spider-Man, had also strung up a banner criticising the BBC, which announced the repair work earlier this week. Police told the Mirror the man - and officers - remain at the scene as of 12.30pm.
The protester left a message criticising the BBC (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)The sculpture has been on display at Broadcasting House since 1932 but was attacked last year amid calls for it to be removed.
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A Met Police spokesman said: "The man was reportedly damaging a sculpture.
"Officers attended the location.
"It has not been possible to safely detain the man given the circumstances of the incident, including the height.
"Specialist officers have been called to the scene."
The man protested about a statue by Eric Gill, who reportedly sexually abused his daughters (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)The statue has previously been targeted with a hammer.
On Tuesday, the BBC said after “careful consideration” taking into account the historical and cultural significance of the building and after discussions with leading cultural organisations such as Historic England, the repair work was agreed with all costs covered through the corporation’s insurance and not the licence fee.
Scaffolding went up around the building on Tuesday with expert stonemasons beginning to restore the work, carved from Caen stone, a type of limestone quarried in north-west France.
The broadcaster said the repair work would be used to provide additional context about the artwork and Gill, and that members of the public would also be able to access a QR code nearby.
Specialist police officers were called to the scene in central London (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)Robert Seatter, head of BBC History, said: “Broadcasting House is a building of historical and cultural significance and one of the foundations of modern-day broadcasting, both in this country and around the world.
“We have a responsibility to maintain and preserve the building for generations to come.
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“Alongside this, Gill’s abusive behaviour and lifestyle are well documented and the BBC in no way condones his behaviour.
“So while it is right that the fabric of the building is restored, we must also ensure people are fully informed about the history connected to it.”
Mr Gill, who created the statue, was one of the most prominent early 20th-century British artists and designers (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)Gill was among the most prominent sculptors of the 20th century until his death in 1940 but his diaries, published much later, detailed the sexual abuse of his daughters.
A biography on the Tate museum website said: “His religious views and subject matter contrast with his sexual behaviour, including his erotic art, and (as mentioned in his own diaries) his extramarital affairs and sexual abuse of his daughters, sisters and dog.”
More than 3,000 people have signed a petition demanding the removal of the sculpture on the website of political activist group 38 Degrees.
The repairs had been set to be completed by the end of June.