The Iron Man

This is a picture of the Iron Man In Birmingham. I won a competition (394) with image I 'treated' the same way,using photoshop and Topaz glow. It's always nice to win something, however the entry attracted some controversy. This image was one of about 20 I have done of brum and its people. Read below for my thoughts
I love a bit of controversy - it is whats art about.
In Birmingham, there is a statue called the Iron man by anthony Gormley. On the face of it, it is a slanting, loose image of a man left to rust.
It caused so much crap when it was installed, I was there just after the installation and there two old ladies walking around the statue, Their conversation went something like this;
"They call that art do they Gladys, art my arse ( maybe she didn't say arse)Art, I dont even know what is"
"I think its a man Mabel? He looks like he has just walked out of the pub" " Oh yes, I can see it now, it is a man, of sorts anyway, if it is a man he looks kind of lonely or sad"
Anyway they were there for at least 20 minutes discussing the possibilities, of what the statue might be about,how it fitted in the environment, how it might relate to Brum, it was brilliant to eavesdrop.
They went away still not sure it was art or not but I know what I thought....
By the way I hate Marmite but I love Bovril
Ps I posted the iron man (interpretation ) on the gallery page)
I did whole series of images of Brum buildings and people. Edited using both photoshop and Topaz glow to give them a common feel.
I have been lucky enough to sell 8 images as prints so far, three local Musicians are using their images on their website and facebook And Have an enquiry from two other bands who want to commision some work.and I feel good.