"Forward", udført af Raymond Mason

Skulpturen, som det tog kunstneren 3 år at lave, er lavet i glasfiber, og måler i bredden 3,90 meter; i højden 4,50 meter; i længden 9 meter.
Opførelsen, eller afsløringen, blev foretaget af Dronning Elizabeth II, den 12. juni 1991.

Det er byens største enkelt-investering, i hvert fald indenfor kulturen - £275.000.

Kunstneren er barnefødt i Birmingham (Edgbaston), i 1922, men flyttede i 1949 til Paris.

Men - hvorfor lavede Raymond Mason skulpturen i netop dén udformning?
"Skulpturen viser en gruppe arbejdere, som klarer sig igennem den viktorianske fortid til den lysende fremtid."
I et interview med Paula Weideger i Independent d. 5. juni 1991, udtalte Raymond Mason: "På et bestemt tidspunkt i historien var Birmingham unik! En tradition for håndværk og fin maskineri blev grundlagt. Det bør aldrig glemmes! 'De' rev hjertet ud af Birmingham, og da jeg blev bedt om at lave en skulptur, sagde jeg JA - hvis jeg kunne fremkalde den by 'de' havde revet ned! Det ville være en skam at glemme hvad der engang var et monument over den menneskelige saga omkring flot håndværk! Muligheden for at fremkalde Birmingham arbejdsmanden var uimodståelig.
Jeg skylder noget til den by jeg elsker! Centenary Square er det ideelle sted for min skulptur - fronten på skulpturen bliver altid belyst af henholdsvis solopgangen og sen eftermiddagssol.
Hvis skulpturen er succesful vil den oplyse hele Centenary Square."

Mason kalder skulpturen 'Forward' fordi "Birmingham har en forgangen tradition indenfor industri, men også en lysende fremtid. Er skulpturen god, vil den ikke blive vandaliseret!"

Raymond Mason har slået meget på, at 'Forward' skulle vise hvad Birmingham har, og har haft, at byde på. Det være sig arbejdskraft, produkter og materialer.
Til det har en historiker, Dr. Carl Chinn, gjort opmærksom på en væsentlig detalje: Valget af materiale til skulpturen - glasfiber - er ikke et materiale fra Birmingham!

Blandt kritikerne har der lydt mange mindre flatterende kommentarer. Enkelte nævnes her: Skulpturen er en forherligelse af det russiske, og Centenary Square burdes døbes om til Den Røde Plads (er rent faktisk belagt med røde sten!). Den kaldes hurmørforladt, og en skamplet på byen!
Populær eller ej: Skulpturen er et 'focal point', hvor blandt andre brudepar stiller sig op!

"Forward", by Raymond Mason (Edgbaston born)

The making of the Sculpture took 3 years. It's made of Steel-reinforced polyester resin and measures 13 ft. wide, 15 ft. high and 30 ft. long.
"Forward" was unveiled by Queen Elizabeth II, 12 June 1991.

The City Counsil voted £275.000 for the monument!! The highest amount of money a provensial city has paid for a work of public art.

The artist is Birmingham-born (Edgbaston), in 1922, but in 1949 he moved to Paris, France.

But - why exactly this shape of the sculpture?
"The sculpture shows a group of workers striding on from an industrial (Victorian) past towards a bright new future"
In an interview with Paula Weideger in the Independent 5 June 1991, Raymond Mason said: "For one precise moment in history Birmingham was unique. It founded a tradition of fine craftmanship and fine machinery.
That shouldn't be forgotten.

They tore the heart out of Birmingham. When I was asked to do a monument I said 'YES' - if I could evoke this city they had taken down [Mr. Mason never specified who 'they' were! /Editor]
It would be a great pity to forget what was a great monument in the human saga of fine work.
The possibility of evoking the Birmingham workman was irresistable.

I want to pay a debt to the city I love.

Centenary Square is the ideal situation for my sculpture. The front figures will receive the setting or late afternoon sun.
If the sculpture is successful it will light up that square"

Mason named the sculpture 'Forward' since "Birmingham has a great past tradition in industry but also has a great future. That is why I called it "Forward"
If it's good it won't be vandalised!"

To Raymond Mason it was very important that 'Forward' should show what Birmingham has, and used to have, to offer. Being craftmanship, products and materials.
That made the historian Dr. Carl Chinn, comment on a small detail: The choice of Steel-reinforced polyester resin is not a birmingham material!

Among the critics of the sculpture lots of less flattering comments has filled the air.
To mention just a few: The sculpture is a hailing of all that's russian and that Centenery Square should be renamed 'The Red Square' (actually Centenery Square has red tiling all over!)It's called 'humourless' and an eyesore...!
Popular or not: The sculpture is a 'focal point', especially to Newlyweds and their guests...