Campaign takes steps to get big foot moved

Published on Tuesday 14 April 2009 09:37

IT has had its foot firmly planted at the top of Leith Walk since it went on display to the public almost 20 years ago.

But now campaigners are hoping to move part of Eduardo Paolozzi's famous sculpture The Manuscript of Monte Cassino in the hope of kick-starting the local economy.

Environmental organisation Greener Leith has proposed moving Paolozzi's "big foot" to the bottom of Leith Walk as part of the redesign of its current home, Picardy Place.

The area, next to St Mary's Cathedral, is to be overhauled as part of the tram project and will eventually house a transport interchange.

The not-for-profit group wants to move the sculpture to the Kirkgate at the Foot of the Walk to help attract visitors to the area, while at the same time putting the boot into the "universally hated" sculpture of a giant whale tusk which stands outside the shopping centre.

However, they face opposition from city arts impressario Richard Demarco, who said the three-part sculpture – which also includes a hand and an ankle – should not be split up.

Greener Leith's Alastair Tibbitt said the remaining pieces of the sculpture could be used as part of a trail to draw people into Leith.

He said: "Paolozzi was born only a stone's throw away from the Foot of the Walk and we believe that bringing his sculptures home would go a long way to contribute to the ongoing regeneration of the Kirkgate area.

"In place of the Paolozzi statues, Greener Leith proposes that regular art work could be commissioned for the space."

Born at 6 Crown Place in March 1924, Sir Eduardo Paolozzi is one of Leith most famous sons. He died in 2005. The Manuscript of Monte Cassino, which was funded by Sir Tom Farmer and is now owned by the city council, was inaugurated on September 6, 1991.

A council spokeswoman said a decision had yet to be made on the future of the Paolozzi sculptures.

Greener Leith said the sculptures could be used to attract art lovers to Leith in conjunction with a series of statues by artist Antony Gormley.

However, Richard Demarco, whose father's family came from the same part of Italy as Paolozzi's, said the sculpture marked the Allied bombing of Monte Cassino during the Second World War and should not be moved.

He said: "I see that piece as a war memorial. You can't move it if it's intended to be one piece.

"One has to be very careful about honouring the wishes of the artist. It's got nothing to do with the Foot of Leith Walk. It represents something else entirely."