WHAT PEOPLE SAY
“I didn’t know it was important until I saw it being restored!”
— Margaret E, East London
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
“I didn’t know it was important until I saw it being restored!”
— Margaret E, East London
RECENT PROJECTS
Leaning Woman
I can relate to the immigrant artist of leaning woman because I moved from my home country and had to get adapted to the British language and the way of the life style. For this work to go to waste is sad.”
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– Isabel Paulo, aged 15
“Public art is really cool, it’s a way of showing who you are. It’s something to express your area if you wanted to or something you want to get across.”
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– Yahya El-Gharras, aged 16, Student at Westside School (Alternative Provision)
The Leaning Woman is a semi-nude 1950s sculpture cast in concrete by Dr Karel Vogel who arrived in Britain from Prague in 1938. As the modern world moved swiftly by, her floating limbo lean reflected a ‘neo-classical calm’. Karel Vogel worked as a sculptor and taught in several schools. This work was originally commissioned by London’s Patronage of the Arts scheme, which placed over 70 artworks around schools, public buildings and estates. In 1959, the statue was not immediately appreciated by local councillors who called it a ‘modern monstrosity’! It is now much loved by the local community and was restored in 2024. Proud Places young people have met the Leaning Woman’s conservators, taken part in sculpture workshops with various media, written poems and participated in community outreach to help fundraise for the restoration costs.
“I would like to bring my granny [to see the Leaning Woman] because she was born in the war."
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– Hannah, aged 9
“I found the statue interesting because, like I said, usually the statues and the important stuff, are more centre of London and this was different to that.”
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– Amelia, aged 10
“[My favourite part was] climbing the scaffolding. It was a good way of learning history… It was kinda cool to touch something from the 1950s.”​
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– Yahya El-Gharras, Age 16, Student at Westside School (Alternative Provision)
“It could have a deep impact on people’s families, some of the sites. Well, as you said Vogel came from a different country, it was during the time that London got bombed and that piece of art was made during a struggled time so it technically represents that you can do anything no matter the situation”
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– Daniel, aged 15, Student at Newman Catholic College
Creative responses
“Vogel came from a different country, it was during the time that London got bombed and that piece of art was made during a struggled time so it technically represents that you can do anything no matter the situation.”
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– Daniel, aged 16
