Britain is characterized by a widely shared but seldom acknowledged eccentric streak. The nation shows artistic and creative energy, along with inventive, tech-forward contributions marked by brave and unusual ideas. Its landscapes are described as strange and distinctive, featuring ancient and mysterious geological formations and many local legends. A curated guide presents hundreds of curiosities, including large-scale public art, unusual architectural recreations, and eerie natural settings. Examples include the Yoxman in Suffolk, a towering bronze figure made over several years as a tribute to the land, and Little Italy in Gwynedd, a remote architectural project inspired by Italy and visible from a nearby footpath.
"One thing unites the British more than anything else. It stands there in plain sight but is rarely spoken about. We may try to hide it; we may not admit it to ourselves; but under the surface, deep down, in the nicest possible way, we are all a little odd. Not in a sinister way, just eccentric, weird, unpredictable and downright wonderful."
"As a nation we have an artistic and creative zest and boffin-like inventiveness. In fields of innovation, we led the tech world with some of our brave and crazy inventions. Even our landscapes are damn weird, with some of the oldest, most mysterious and diverse geological oddities in Europe, and plentiful legends too."
"The Yoxman, Suffolk In a field not far from the A12 in Yoxford, Suffolk, stands the Yoxman, an artwork of colossal proportions. At 8m (26ft) high and made from bronze, it took creator Laurence Edwards and his team four years to make. The figure is a personal tribute to Suffolk, the artist describing it as a visitor from the past, both from the land and of the land. The result, finished in 2021, is astounding."
"Little Italy, Gwynedd Little Italy is not open to the public but is visible from a footpath. Photograph: Dave Hamilton/Wild Things Publishing The late Mark Bourne, a chicken farmer, was obsessed by Italy, visiting as often as he could, filling notebooks with sketches of buildings and architecture. When he returned to his remote cottage on the Corris hillside in Gwynedd, Wales, he and his wife aimed to recreate what he had seen"
#british-eccentricity #public-art #geology-and-landscapes #architecture-and-landmarks #creative-inventions
Read at www.theguardian.com
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