Furious residents are demanding that a statue of a woman wrapped in a sheet and tied with rope be REMOVED amid claims that ‘misogynistic’ artwork is ‘totally inappropriate’

Furious residents are campaigning for the removal of a ‘terrible’ and ‘misogynistic’ statue depicting a woman wrapped in a sheet and tied with a piece of rope.

Ariadne (Wrapped) was unveiled outside Cambridge train station in 2022 by artist Gavin Turk, but has since been branded ‘woman tied in a bag’ and ‘totally inappropriate’ – among other harsh words.

The artwork, which depicts the Greek goddess Ariadne, was created to show a sculpture in transit while wrapped in a dust sheet.

But Green councilor Naomi Bennett told a Cambridge City Council meeting that she believed the piece should be removed, going so far as to suggest it was ‘mainstreaming violence against women’.

Speaking to the council chamber, Ms Bennett explained: ‘What does it say about our city that visitors to our city are greeted by a statue of a tied up woman when they arrive at central station?’

Ms Bennett said: ‘Some people don’t realize it’s a bound woman and just think it’s some kind of construction in progress and not yet completed. And others do go and have a look and are quite upset because Cambridge station, late at night, is not a nice place to be

Ariadne Wrapped’, unveiled in Station Square, Cambridge Ariadne (Wrapped) outside Cambridge railway station by artist Gavin Turk in 2022

The artwork, which depicts the Greek goddess Ariadne, was created to show a sculpture in transit while wrapped in a dust sheet.

She added: “It’s not really the impression I want people to get when they come to Cambridge,” speaking to local newspaper the Cambridge Independent.

“Some people don’t realize it’s a bound woman and just think it’s some kind of work in progress and not finished yet. And others do go and have a look and are quite upset because Cambridge station, late at night, is not a nice place to be.

“I just think it’s just another way that violence against women is becoming mainstream. The reason I got so angry was because I just got a call from the Cambridge Rape Crisis Center saying, “Please send us some money as our caseload has increased by a third.”

‘I think the artist is considered quite hip. And I wonder if Brookgate was trying to be a little hipster. But I think the joke is really on them, and on us.”

The controversy comes after a 13-foot-tall bronze statue, The Don, depicting Prince Philip, was removed from nearby Hills Road last month because it lacked planning permission. The council called it ‘possibly the worst quality work’ ever. submitted.

The artwork, which represented Prince Philip in his role as Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University, suddenly appeared in July.

Owners, Unex Ltd, argued that the statue did not require planning permission because it was not a development.

Some locals at the time labeled the removal as ‘leftie woke censorship’.

Cambridge resident Susan Buckingham posted on X: ‘Residents’ action got The Don (not an academic, but the Duke of Edinburgh) removed. “I am absolutely prepared to get rid of ‘Ariadne Wrapped’ – a horribly misogynistic sculpture.”

Mike Scialom added: “The reality is that a city that cannot tolerate a statue of an academic and at the same time forces visitors to see a sculpture of a woman tied up and bagged just outside the main train station is a city who has lost her moral compass.’

Dara Morefield concluded: ‘I’ve always hated that statue outside the station, without even being aware of its supposed significance.’

A spokesperson for Brookgate, the company that commissioned Ariadne (Wrapped), said: ‘Ariadne (Wrapped) is a sculpture by renowned British artist Gavin Turk.

The 4 meter high statue in Cambridge depicting Prince Philip, which has recently been removed. Now there are calls to remove another controversial statue in the city

Streets in the center of Cambridge, near John’s College. Ariadne (Wrapped) shows an object wrapped in a dust sheet as if waiting to be unwrapped. Ariadne is metaphorically wrapped in history, context and time, say the art clients

‘The piece depicts the Greek goddess Ariadne and is inspired by artists Giorgio de Chirico – known for his surreal works, including a similar statue in a square, and Christo and Jeanne-Claude, iconic for their large-scale monumental installations, often wrapped in fabric.

‘Ariadne (Wrapped) shows an object wrapped in a dust sheet as if it is waiting to be unpacked. Ariadne is metaphorically wrapped in history, context and time.

‘The canvas forms an important part of the artwork, suggesting that the statue is in a constant state of transport, accompanied by the hustle and bustle of passing trains through the station behind, while the figure remains stationary.

‘Brookgate commissioned Ariadne (Wrapped) to invest in culture, along with the ongoing delivery of the CB1 estate.

‘The artwork was carefully selected based on a series of proposals over several years. This included consultation with Cambridge City Council’s full public art panel, and a public art steering group made up of community representatives, local businesses, arts fraternity members and council officers.”