By Izzy Hawksworth via SWNS
A sculptor exhibiting an incredible life-like statue of a young woman in city centers says he is plagued by men who constantly grope and molest it.
Rory Macbeth, 57, created the wax sculpture, called Flora, around 20 years ago and has recently started showing it in public locations throughout the UK.
The figure has been designed to look as lifelike as possible – dressed in
a white shawl with beads around its wrist and clutching a bunch of flowers.
But while the majority of reactions are positive, Rory says that some men make “inappropriate comments” towards Flora and will also grope or kiss the statue.
He said: “The vast majority of people think she’s a person.
“A lot of people touch her. Touching anyone without their permission is problematic and it’s amazing how many people do that.
“They don’t seem to think it’s a problem.
“There’s a tiny minority of people who threaten her with violence or touch her inappropriately or make offensive comments.
“The majority of problematic comments and actions have come from men.
“I have had a couple of comments from women, who have inexplicably threatened to punch her, but the worst behaviors tend to be from men, who are often drunk or are showing off to friends.
“When I call people out for their behavior, their reaction tends to be, ‘Sorry, I thought she was a person’, which is obviously worse.”
Rory, of Leeds, West Yorks., who is exhibiting Flora as part of the experimental creative organization Ghost Art School, says some comments from men left him “really shocked”.
He went on: “The behaviors are pretty constant.
“I had always known that women get hassled by men but until I was looking after Flora, I had no idea how utterly relentless it is.
“Irrespective of whether it’s a sculpture or not, then touching it without permission is a weird thing to do – and it’s obviously a really problematic thing to do if it’s a person.
“But this happens all the time.”
Rory has so far taken the statue to various UK cities including Leeds, York, Harrogate, Glasgow, Manchester and Liverpool.
He added: “Almost everybody who sees her feels certain that she is a person.
“By being in the street and not a gallery the work can reach a different audience who may not often encounter art.
“I spend the entire day explaining to people that she’s a sculpture and not a person.
“I tend to approach people who have been looking at her and explain it’s a waxwork and how it’s made.
“People don’t often believe me, they think I’m some bystander who is having a joke which is odd.”
“Once someone has made up their mind, they can be quite vigorous in their defense that she’s a person, which is quite weird.
“Lots of people claim they can see her breathing, or her hands moving
“Even people who touch her often say it’s a real person, when she’s made of wax and she’s quite solid.”
