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Everlasting art

• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by geminiW (U2779785) on Monday, 5th March 2007

  I see that Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is showing a documentary on the chalk figures at Uffington. I wish I was able to see that on TV. I don't live in England though. Here we only get to see Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Asia.
  
  Would it be such a far fetched idea that those were merely created by a very ambitious artist? One who, like most others had dreamt of artistic immortality.
  Creating those images was never impossible. It would just require some (very)careful planning, I think.
  Since pre rennaisance people have wanted their art to become iconic legacies. Why not in this case aswell?
  
  gW

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by widget (U2260877) on Monday, 5th March 2007

  Hi geminiw
  
  I can't see why not! After all even the Greek, Roman and Renaissance artists took commissions, perhaps it was just another form of civic art. Not the much-copied apollo belvedere or venus de milo, but our own British icon. I'm so glad you mentioned the documentary, I haven't seen it advertised but will look out for it.

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  Posted by generallobus (U1869191) on Monday, 5th March 2007

  Hi Gemini
  
  As far as I know the uffington horse is the the only chalk figure in Britain that has been succesfully dated, in this case circa 900 bce. What i find fascinating about the site is that it has to be scoured every 7 years or so. This would imply that long after the orig. artist(s) had passed on the figure was still being maintained. In the case of Uffington that's nearly 3000 years of continually maintenance by the same community.
  
  So, whilst it's possible that it was the work of an individual I think it's more likely to have been a 'community based arts project'.
  
  Regardless, it's a wonderful place to visit.

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  Posted by widget (U2260877) on Monday, 5th March 2007

  I like that - 'a community based arts project. The ancient version of graffiti! I must say i've never been but would love to go. I really wish that Kit Williams 'Masquerade' treasure had been found there. When i was a kid i was sure that was where it was buried...!
  
  I Recently read a bit about the long gone Tysoe Red Horses - i didn't realise that the country had so many hill figures!

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