2018 marks the 20th Birthday of this iconic sculpture, which overlooks the A1 and East Coast Mainline. It has become a symbol of North East England and kick started a change from hardened industry to the world of art and culture, which continues to thrive to this day. The Angel of the North brought much-needed investment to the North East and also opened the door to the revival of art and entertainment in Gateshead, Newcastle and beyond.
The Angel does divide opinion; some people love it and feel it gives us a sense of pride; it puts the North East on the map. Others, do think different and dislike it citing it a waste of money or even ugly; some may call this short-sighted viewpoint, but people are entitled to an opinion; art should provoke any form of opinion and criticism; as long as it gets people talking and debating, art is then doing its job.
The site of the Angel is a former colliery pithead baths synonymous with Gateshead mining history. The land was reclaimed as a green landscape during the early 90s. The sculpture was designed by artist Antony Gormley, a relatively unknown artist at the time, but is now famous around the world. Gormley has exhibited in the Victoria and Albert Museum, Tate Gallery, British Museum and the Henry Moore Sculpture Gallery in Leeds.
Learn more about the Angel of the North and the construction of it here: www.gateshead.gov.uk/Leisure%20and%20Culture/attractions/Angel/Home.aspx
The Angel does divide opinion; some people love it and feel it gives us a sense of pride; it puts the North East on the map. Others, do think different and dislike it citing it a waste of money or even ugly; some may call this short-sighted viewpoint, but people are entitled to an opinion; art should provoke any form of opinion and criticism; as long as it gets people talking and debating, art is then doing its job.
The site of the Angel is a former colliery pithead baths synonymous with Gateshead mining history. The land was reclaimed as a green landscape during the early 90s. The sculpture was designed by artist Antony Gormley, a relatively unknown artist at the time, but is now famous around the world. Gormley has exhibited in the Victoria and Albert Museum, Tate Gallery, British Museum and the Henry Moore Sculpture Gallery in Leeds.
Learn more about the Angel of the North and the construction of it here: www.gateshead.gov.uk/Leisure%20and%20Culture/attractions/Angel/Home.aspx
Photos
These original unedited images below were taken on 22nd July 2011. Although it was mid-summer, it was quite a cool and cloudy day, the light was not so good but at least I got some dramatic skies. I love the images containing people, they help justify the huge scale of this wonderful sculpture. This is art on a grand scale, a proud unqiue icon that you can go up to and touch, sit on, admire up close or in the distant landscape from your car, train or even plane.
I visited the Angel with my partner, it was the first time he had seen it up close and personal. It was a proud moment for me to be able to show him something so iconic, so different. We looked at and photographed the Angel from different angles and perspectives; it is so big that it can be hard to get the whole sculpture into view.
Some people now view the Angel of the North as a guardian and come from afar to find inner peace. They bring objects and trinkets to decorate the surrounding trees, perhaps to help heal wounds created by the passing of the ones they love; it is beautiful.
Like Durham Cathedral, Penshaw Monument and the North East's collection of other wonderful landmarks, people view the Angel as a symbol of coming home; after a long trip or journey, they see the Angel and say to themselves "nearly home".
I visited the Angel with my partner, it was the first time he had seen it up close and personal. It was a proud moment for me to be able to show him something so iconic, so different. We looked at and photographed the Angel from different angles and perspectives; it is so big that it can be hard to get the whole sculpture into view.
Some people now view the Angel of the North as a guardian and come from afar to find inner peace. They bring objects and trinkets to decorate the surrounding trees, perhaps to help heal wounds created by the passing of the ones they love; it is beautiful.
Like Durham Cathedral, Penshaw Monument and the North East's collection of other wonderful landmarks, people view the Angel as a symbol of coming home; after a long trip or journey, they see the Angel and say to themselves "nearly home".
Edited Photos
Below are a series of edited photos of the Angel. I used Adobe Photoshop to edit the images:
The Angel is so accessible that you can climb onto it and feel the material it is made from. In this image above, I love how the man looks up at the sculpture; taking in its huge size.
I love the pose I captured of this chap. The skies also add a sense of drama.
The Angel provides a perfect backdrop for people to sit and pose for a photograph. To capture a moment and a memory to cherish forever; not many pieces of Art allow you to express your feelings and emotions towards others; to me that can aid in giving us a sense of peace in a turbulant world that we live in today.
Here you can see some of the structure and detail of the Angel.
A more painterley version of the Angel, the figure is more ghostly and the skies very moody.
This image shows the Angel in a different world. A world of reflection and peace.
Videos
Further Reading
Angel of the North Wikipedia Article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_of_the_North
Angel of the North Gateshead Council Pages - http://www.gateshead.gov.uk/Leisure%20and%20Culture/attractions/Angel/Home.aspx
Antony Gormley's Website - http://www.antonygormley.com
