5. Verity By Damien Hirst
Members of North Devon Council referred to the controversial nature of Hirst’s ‘Verity’ statue as a potential boost to tourism. Local reaction was very mixed however, with those critical of the work calling it “ugly” and stating that “it isn’t suitable for a Victorian seaside town.” Before they allowed planning permission, the council received 100 letters from people who objected to the installation of the work. Now with the recent discovery of the British Mars probe Beagle 2, Damien Hirst is the first artist to have his art land on another planet, which is ironic considering that many locals in Ilfracombe, Devon, still wish that the bronze sculpture – depicting a pregnant woman holding aloft a sword while carrying the scales of justice, with her internal anatomy, and unborn baby clearly visible – be fired into orbit.