''Willow Man'' is a large outdoor sculpture by
Serena de la Hey. It is in a field to the west of the
M5 motorway
The M5 is a motorway in England linking the Midlands with the South West England, South West. It runs from junction 8 of the M6 motorway, M6 at West Bromwich near Birmingham to Exeter in Devon. Heading south-west, the M5 runs east of West Brom ...
, near
Bridgwater
Bridgwater is a historic market town and civil parish in Somerset, England. The town had a population of 41,276 at the 2021 census. Bridgwater is at the edge of the Somerset Levels, in level and well-wooded country. The town lies along both sid ...
in Somerset,
South West England
South West England, or the South West of England, is one of the nine official regions of England, regions of England in the United Kingdom. Additionally, it is one of four regions that altogether make up Southern England. South West England con ...
, near to the
Bristol to Exeter railway line and south of junction 23 of the motorway. It stands , with a arm span, and is made of
black maul willow withies woven over a 3-tonne steel frame.
''Willow Man'' was commissioned by
South West Arts, for the
Year of the Artist, and the Moate family the land owner. The sculpture, which cost , was unveiled in September 2000.
It marks the millennium and celebrates the role of
willow
Willows, also called sallows and osiers, of the genus ''Salix'', comprise around 350 species (plus numerous hybrids) of typically deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist soils in cold and temperate regions.
Most species are known ...
in the ecology and craft tradition of the
Somerset Levels
The Somerset Levels are a coastal plain and wetland area of Somerset, England, running south from the Mendips to the Blackdown Hills.
The Somerset Levels have an area of about and are bisected by the Polden Hills; the areas to the south ...
.
The first sculpture was burnt down in an arson attack on 8 May 2001.
The sculpture was rebuilt by the same artist in October 2001,
and a circular
moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch dug around a castle, fortification, building, or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. Moats can be dry or filled with water. In some places, moats evolved into more extensive water d ...
was excavated around it as a precaution against further attacks.
[
A notable landmark, it can be described as a somehow permanent Wicker man sculpture. The sculpture is popularly known as Withy Man, or ''Angel of the South'' in reference to Antony Gormley's sculpture '']Angel of the North
The ''Angel of the North'' is a contemporary sculpture by Antony Gormley, located in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England. Completed in 1998, it is seen by an estimated 33 million people every year due to its proximity to the A1 road (Great Bri ...
''. The name '' Angel of the South'' is now commonly used also as the unofficial title for a proposed colossal sculpture in Ebbsfleet.
In September 2006, ''Willow Man'' received "a £20,000 hair cut".
The sculptor Serena de la Hey said that she thought many local birds had been using the material for their nests. When the artist saw her sculpture she was "shocked to see the wear and tear".
In 2018, an appeal to raise funds for the repair of the structure failed to meet its target.
See also
* List of tallest statues
References
External links
{{commons category, Somerset Willow Man
Serena de la Hey website
2000 establishments in England
Outdoor sculptures in England
Arts in Somerset
Somerset Levels
2000 sculptures
Buildings and structures in Sedgemoor
Wooden sculptures in the United Kingdom
Basket weaving
M5 motorway
Colossal statues in the United Kingdom
Wicker man