Art Matters: For me Knife Angel is art that sits squarely in 'Right Reason Land'

If you've read anything I’ve written over the last few years, you’ll know that I’m a big fan of ‘The Right Reason’ – doing things that are kind, thoughtful and positive for no other motive than it’s the right thing to do.

I see and read about a lot of projects, all over the country and right on our doorsteps, that have their hearts very firmly in the right place.

For me, the latest joint initiative between Thames Valley Police and the British Ironwork Centre, sits squarely in ‘Right Reason Land’ at the intersection of resourceful, positive and meaningful. The fruits of TVP’s last knife amnesty are to be ‘repurposed’ into a piece of artwork – a memorial to the victims of knife crime – and exhibited on the fourth plinth at Trafalgar Square. The work ’Knife Angel’ will  be formed of around 30,000 weapons, seized and surrendered across the country.

Positive, meaningful artwork, though brilliant, isn’t anything new. It’s the resourcefulness of this particular piece that’s making waves. It’s the strong use of materials and a fearlessness that’s just right, despite the sensitivity of the subject. It is art that’s not afraid to offend or challenge in its pursuit of purpose. 

So often public artworks are simply an afterthought without any true sense of place or intention. Maidenhead is the perfect example – lots of lovely looking pieces are dotted about, but few ultimately ‘say’ anything about our cultures or communities. Why are we so fearful of anything that isn’t simply traditional figurative sculpture?

This is another reason why I was so excited to see that Maidenhead TVP was participating in the Surrender Your Knife project. It proves that even when art is potentially fraught with logistical challenges, it can still be realised. It just requires an open mind and willingness to change.

Must-see this month:

Tues 23rd Feb to Sun 20th March: 

Jo Hall – Seen and Imagined at Norden Farm Centre for the Arts.

Until Friday 26th Feb: 

John Rae at The Rendezvous Cafe, Maidenhead Town Hall

Until 1st April: 

Pat Shenstone – Colour, Pattern & Form at Elizabeth House Gallery, Bookham.