Is it art or is it ego?

Jun 27 2010 by Ian Robson, Sunday Sun

ART. Aaargh, I hear you say at the mere mention of the word, he’s blathering on about art again.

Just like he did a couple of weeks ago, and a couple of months ago, last year, the year before that and the year before that.

Got me there. Admittedly art is a subject I can’t stop myself from having a go at.

That’s why any new installation – we have to call them installations now – by Antony Gormley is a gift.

This time the self-obsessed Mr Gormley, creator of the Angel of the North, has unveiled his first work in Scotland.

Yet again he has drawn inspiration from the human body, often his own, for his work.

It’s basically six life-sized figures with four situated at intervals along Edinburgh’s Water of Leith.

It’s called 6 Times and is, er, ah, well, apparently its location says something about the meaning of life.

Over to you, Mr G, what’s it all about? Gormley said: “For me it was an obvious context to use to ask quite serious questions about where the human project fits into the scheme of things at large.

“I’m really excited because it’s a very open experiment. Can these works in some sense add a dimension to people’s experience of the city?”

Glad that’s cleared up. I think he means Scots will grow to like the six figures.

Just like most of us have grown to like the Angel of the North.

Most, not all, as I still think of it as a giant Antony Gormley with his arms outstretched.