Since it was launched, a little over a week ago, the campaign to save the Allington House sculptures has attracted tremendous worldwide support. Hundreds of people have expressed their disgust at Land Securities’ planned corporate vandalism.
If you haven’t already done so please add your name to the petition, time is running out, the demolition process has already begun.
There is a new hope that the sculptures can be saved.
Demolition has begun at Allington House
In addition to the hundreds of signatures and growing support on the campaign’s Facebook page a number of artists, conservation specialists and lawyers have offered specialist advice to the campaign. Their collective view is that Land Securities would be acting illegally if they destroyed Barry Baldwin’s Endangered Species Triptych.
Land Securities development arm clearly have no qualms about consigning a beautiful London landmark to the skip but will their legal department be as relaxed about the company taking a wrecking ball to the law?
The issues raised range wider than simply protecting this much-loved work in Victoria. If Barry Baldwin’s work is destroyed in the callous manner proposed, then how many other artist’s work will be put under threat in future?
Here is a summary of the key points of specialist advice that the campaign has been given.
1) Physical Ownership of the Sculptures
In all probability the works do not belong to Land Securities and so they have no right to destroy them. It is highly unusual for an artist to explicitly sign over complete ownership of a work of public art in perpetuity, no matter who has paid for the commission. Land Securities have not produced a contract between themselves and Barry Baldwin showing that he did sign away all of his future rights. The campaign challenges them to produce this elusive document (if indeed it exists) immediately or admit Barry’s ownership of the sculptures and begin direct discussions with him about their preservation.
2) Intellectual Property Rights
Irrespective of the physical ownership, Barry Baldwin retains all the intellectual property rights, image rights, of the sculptures. Land Securities cannot deface or damage his work in any way. Other sculptors have told me how more sensitive (or at least legally savvy) developers will go to immense trouble to seek advice from an artist over such routine issues as cleaning or maintenance of public sculpture. Land Securities have not sought permission from Barry Baldwin to destroy his sculptures nor taken up his offer of advice on how to protect them.
I will post again on the technical issues of preservation and how Barry Baldwin would propose to save the works.
3) Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works
The UK is a signatory to this international treaty aimed at preventing the destruction of works of art. Exemptions relating to buildings do not apply in Barry Baldwin’s case because the Endangered Species Triptych is a stand-alone work that can be removed from the building prior to demolition. Barry has offered to give Land Securities his specialist advice on how the sculptures can be removed, shamefully they have so far refused to take him up on his offer.
4) English Heritage Listing
Last week an emergency application to list the Allington House sculptures was made to English Heritage. As campaigners wait for English Heritage’s decision Land Securities have refused to offer any assurance that they will not proceed with demolition or any work that might damage the sculptures until that decision has been taken.
5) Location & Reputation
The location of the sculptures as a very prominent work of public art also provides Barry Baldwin with important rights. To destroy them would be a defamatory attack on his international reputation as an artist. Similarly moving them to some tucked away spot where few people would be able to enjoy them would be an unforgivable slight on his reputation.
6) Reasonableness
In all respects Land Securities have acted unreasonably. They have not directly involved the artist in discussions about the future of the work. They have not accepted his offer of technical advice. They haven’t made any efforts to find a new home for the works. If they are theirs to sell why don’t they offer to sell them to another institution? They haven’t revealed the cost of saving them, denying potential donors or buyers the opportunity of meeting that cost, although as one of Britain’s largest and most profitable companies they hardly need help on this front.
They have acted like bullies without regard to the obvious merits of the works nor the feelings and rights of the artist. I will post an interview with Barry Baldwin later this week in which he expresses his profound disappointment about the way he has been treated.
In a statement to the BBC Donal McCabe, a representative from Land Securities, said: “We have a long history of art in the community and we have spent and are spending over £2.5m on art in our current regeneration of Victoria.”
Well that’s just great Donal, do you realise what a philistine you sound like? “So we smashed up an Epstein, so what? We put in a Henry Moore to replace it, what’s the problem?”
Land Securities obviously have no respect for, understanding of, or appreciation of art. Let’s hope they show more understanding and respect for the law.
Please support the campaign to save these magnificent works, by signing the petition, by using Twitter and Facebook and by encouraging friends to do the same. You can keep up to date on daily developments by liking the campaign Facebook page.
If you liked this post, or found it useful, please share it.
Forward to a friend
