A Conversation with Oscar Wilde facts for kids
Quick facts for kids A Conversation with Oscar Wilde |
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The memorial in 2019
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| Artist | Maggi Hambling |
| Medium | Bronze, granite |
| Subject | Oscar Wilde |
| Location | London, United Kingdom |
| 51°30′31″N 0°07′33″W / 51.50868°N 0.12589°W | |
A Conversation with Oscar Wilde is a special outdoor sculpture in central London. It celebrates the famous Irish writer Oscar Wilde. The artist, Maggi Hambling, created this unique artwork. It was first shown to the public in 1998. The sculpture looks like a green granite bench. A part of Oscar Wilde's head and shoulders comes out of one end. His hand is also visible.
Contents
How the Sculpture Was Made
People first thought about creating a memorial for Oscar Wilde in the 1980s. Many fans of his work, like Derek Jarman, wanted to honor him. After Jarman passed away in 1994, a group was formed. It was called "A Statue for Oscar Wilde." This group worked to make the tribute happen.
Who Helped Create It?
The committee was led by Jeremy Isaacs. Famous actors like Dame Judi Dench and Sir Ian McKellen were part of it. The poet Seamus Heaney also joined the group. They all wanted to see a statue built for Wilde.
Choosing the Design
Many artists sent in their ideas for the sculpture. Twelve artists submitted sketches. Six of these artists were then asked to make small models. These models showed what their ideas would look like. Maggi Hambling's design was chosen. People thought her work was clever and fun.
A Famous Quote
The sculpture has a famous quote from Oscar Wilde's play Lady Windermere's Fan. It says: "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." This quote is carved into the artwork. Many people and groups gave money to help pay for the project.
Where to Find It
The sculpture is in central London. You can find it between Trafalgar Square and Charing Cross Station. It is located behind St Martin's in the Fields church. The sculpture was officially revealed on November 30, 1998. Before that, an exhibition showed drawings and models of the sculpture. This exhibition was held at the nearby National Portrait Gallery in 1997.
Other Wilde Memorials
The London sculpture was almost the first memorial for Oscar Wilde. However, a different artwork was unveiled earlier. This was the Oscar Wilde Memorial Sculpture in Dublin, Ireland. It was designed by Danny Osborne. This memorial was revealed in 1997 in Merrion Square. That is where Oscar Wilde was born.
