Oscar Wilde's Family Not Happy With New 'Hideous' Statue In Chelsea, London

Oscar Wilde’s grandson, Merlin Holland, has condemned a new sculpture of the famed playwright, describing it as “hideous” and inappropriate. Wilde's skull is shown in fragmented form in the black bronze sculpture created by the late Scottish pop artist Sir Eduardo Paolozzi. It will be erected near Wilde's former residence at Dovehouse Green, Chelsea, southwest London. Holland, a knowledgeable authority on his grandfather's life and contributions, expressed strong opposition to the statue, claiming it brings up unpleasant memories of Wilde's untimely demise. Famous for classic novels like The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Importance of Being Earnest, Wilde passed away at the age of 46 from meningitis. Prior to his demise, Wilde's homosexual encounters led to his imprisonment on charges of gross indecency, resulting in a period of public humiliation throughout his final years.Holland emphasized the negative implications of the statue, stating, “It seems to say, ‘here is a monument to a man whom society decapitated.’” He added that it presents Wilde in a way that focuses on his suffering rather than his contributions to literature and society. "How do we want to remember him? As amusing, entertaining, and engaging, or carved up and beheaded for breaking the laws of his time?"When Paolozzi first created the sculpture in 1995, his goal was conceptual art rather than realistic art. The idea was presented to a committee entrusted with commissioning a sculpture of Wilde by the late artist, who passed away in 2005. Prominent people like Sir Jeremy Isaacs, Dame Judi Dench, Sir Ian McKellen, Seamus Heaney, and Holland himself were on the committee that rejected the design because they thought it was too brutalist. The Paolozzi Foundation, a nonprofit organization honoring the artist's legacy, has persisted in pushing for the statue's placement in spite of the denial.In order to get the monument to Dovehouse Green in time for Paolozzi's centennial celebration, the Foundation has been working hard. The Paolozzi Foundation defended the statue in a statement, saying that the Oscar Wilde Society is in favor of the initiative even though they appreciate Holland's viewpoint. The sculpture, according to the Foundation's website, is a "monumental work" that brings together two important cultural personalities who were both Chelsea residents and artists. Paolozzi's previous sculpture, Head of Invention, which sits outside the Kensington Design Museum, has a similar design to this one. Leonardo da Vinci quotations are affixed to a segmented skull that is positioned on its side in that sculpture.While Holland acknowledges the value of modern art innovation, he remains steadfast in his belief that this sculpture does not represent Wilde in a positive light. “It looks absolutely hideous,” he told The Observer.The statue’s planned location near Wilde’s former residence and Paolozzi’s old studio adds significance to the installation. However, the controversy surrounding its design has sparked debate about how Wilde’s legacy should be commemorated. Critics, like Holland, feel that this fragmented portrayal detracts from Wilde’s legacy as a celebrated wit and literary genius.