bronze, 1963
Talos was a giant figure who guarded the island of Crete by throwing stones at the ships of any unwelcome interloper. Ayrton wrote of the character of Talos: ‘a certain tranquillity lies in his stupid presence, a certain comfort. He has no brains and no arms, but looks very powerful.’ A larger cast of Talos was anonymously donated to the City of Cambridge and controversially took up residence near The Guildhall, on the completion of Lion Yard and Fisher House in 1973.
Purchased with assistance from the Heritage Lottery Fund Collecting Cultures Initiative.
This and other works by Ayrton will be discussed by Justine Hopkins at The Fry Art Gallery Autumn Lecture on Friday 24th September.
More details can be found HERE.