BBCA brand new statue designed to commemorate Elizabeth II – the UK’s longest-serving monarch – has acquired a combined reception.
The bronze sculpture, created by north Belfast artist Anto Brennan, was unveiled in Antrim Fort Gardens on Saturday.
Since then, the statue of the late queen, Prince Philip and two corgis has attracted some criticism on social media and commentary from guests to the County Antrim gardens.
Antrim and Newtownabbey Councillor Vera McWilliam informed BBC Information NI: “We’ve got to be sincere, it doesn’t resemble the queen in any form or kind.”
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Richard from Antrim stated that he was “actually upset” after seeing the statue on-line after which coming to see it together with his spouse.
“Whoever signed that off wants their eyes examined. It is not good,” he added.
“I might take it away. It doesn’t do something in reminiscence for her majesty so undoubtedly I might take away it.”
Brenda from Lisburn thinks that the statue ought to have been “made to look older” however “on the entire it’s very nice” and “you continue to get what it represents and what it’s about.”
“It caught my eye instantly.
“You may see who they’re, however I believe undoubtedly it ought to have been her simply earlier than she died to seize the entire which means of who she was and what she represented.”
Alejandro from London was visiting Antrim Fort Gardens with two pals from El Salvador.
He although the statue did not “appear to be the queen.”
“As it’s in her reminiscence I assume it’s a good factor however it doesn’t appear to be her.
“The canine and Prince Philip look good, however the queen, it doesn’t appear to be her,” he added.
‘Go away it the best way it’s’
Cheryl and Gordon from Saintfield stated they appreciated the sculpture however had some concepts about the way it might have been improved.
Cheryl stated there may be “one thing not proper about her higher physique posture and her proper arm however it’s nonetheless pretty to see her”.
Gordon added: “I wouldn’t have seen that it didn’t appear to be the queen however with seeing it on Fb and now that I see it sure, it most likely isn’t a real reflection of her.
“It is simply the face, the remainder of the character of her appears to be like appropriate however the face is possibly not a real reflection of her.
“It’s what it’s, everyone knows who she is and what it’s meant to be so I might simply depart it the best way it’s.”
Francis and Marie from Magherafelt had been very optimistic concerning the sculpture.
“It’s nice, I believe they’ve it right down to the tee,” Francis informed BBC Information NI.
“They’ve received the queen as she’s younger. I believe the 2 can be very happy with it. And so they’ve received the corgis all spherical.
“That’s the queen, she cherished being outdoors and that’s why there’s a smile on her face.”
Marie added that the statue “appears to be like like her if you see her out with the horses and canine. It is extra of her personal life, extra right down to earth”.
‘It is down to non-public style’
The controversy over the sculpture started on the feedback part of a social media put up by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council that includes the primary images of the sculpture.
Feedback have since been turned off.
The proposal to fee a sculpture of the late queen and her two corgis got here in January 2023.
There was already a bronze statue of Prince Philip within the Parterre Backyard.
The Deputy Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey Paul Dunlop attended the revealing of the brand new statue.
He informed BBC Information NI: “It is down to non-public style, everybody has their very own opinion however it’s what the sculpture represents that’s essential.”
When the sculpture was unveiled, Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Neil Kelly, described it as a “lovely statue”.
Its creator, Anthony ‘Anto’ Brennan, is finest recognized for his chess units of distinguished Northern Irish political figures.
BBC Information NI has approached Brennan for remark.
