The Italian Statue - 5 July 2013

The Italian Statue by Professore Giuseppe Martignetti was controversial from the outset and remains so today. Originally unveiled in 2009 to coincide with the first Bedford Italian Festival, it stood on ground near Town Bridge but was later moved to a Greyfriars roundabout (opposite the police station) due to vandalism. Although not without supporters, the statue, intended to represent the spirit of Italian immigrants, was criticised by many of those very Italians. Now the statue, located in what was a manicured flower bed, languishes amidst a cruel field of lavender and weeds. This setting adds something for me to the vibrance of the work (which I like) but unfortunately obscures its plaque and is an example of avoidable civic negligence.

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