Knife Angel to stay in Coventry for extra fortnight - The Coventry Observer

Knife Angel to stay in Coventry for extra fortnight

Coventry Editorial 17th Apr, 2019   0

THE KNIFE Angel sculpture made of 100,000 confiscated blades is set to remain in Coventry for two weeks longer than expected.

The 27-foot high statue – created as a symbol of peace amid rising knife crime – arrived in the city on March 14 where it was intended to remain until April 23.

Positioned outside Coventry’s iconic cathedral, the stunning monument is now set to remain in the city till May 7 after which it will go to Birmingham.

As we reported, the sculpture was welcomed by the families of stabbing victims in the city and messages of peace have since been written on the steps of the cathedral, in the shadow of the imposing angel.




A new painting of the statue by a city artist Andy Taylor has gone on display at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum.

While it is on display at the Herbert, visitors are asked to leave messages about what the painting, and the sculpture it was inspired by, means to them.


Already, hundreds of people have been to see the work of art and left their thoughts on postcards provided by the Herbert.

Andy, who is self-taught and has only been painting for 18 months said: “I wanted to create a legacy piece that commemorated the Knife Angel’s short stay in Coventry. I enjoy the mindfulness that art brings and hope that my painting will help further the awareness of knife crime.”

Francis Ranford, Cultural & Creative Director at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, said: “We are very pleased to host this wonderful painting by Andy Taylor for the next couple of weeks.

“The sculpture itself has proven to be a very emotive piece of art that has impacted the many visitors who have been to the Cathedral to see it.”

The statue was created by artist Alfie Bradley from the British Ironwork Centre in Oswestry, Shropshire, which was commissioned to do the work.

BIC and Mr Bradley teamed up with the 43 police forces across the country so that the blades they recovered could be used to bring the concept to life.

It took four years to build after permission was granted by the Home Office to collect the knives.

About a third of the knives received from police forces had blood on them and were transported in bio-hazard tubes.

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