Plaster penguins is a response to Gormley’s the field

A conservation charity is paying tribute to artist Antony Gormley with a wildlife response to one of his most famous works.

Gormley’s Field for the British Isles is on display at Torre Abbey from  June 27 until  August 23.

Now Living Coasts, Torquay’s coastal zoo, has produced Colony of Tor Bay – nearly 700 hand-painted plaster penguins, each 15 centimeters high. The installation is at the attraction’s front entrance on the quayside at Haldon Pier. Staff and volunteers have produced the miniature penguins over the last six months.

Living Coasts director Elaine Hayes said: “Having such a famous work of art in Torquay has inspired local people to think about art from their own perspective. We are a conservation charity and we wanted to reflect that, so we decided to make a penguin response to Field for the British Isles. During August the penguin figures will gradually be taken away to represent the loss of wildlife around the world.”

Meanwhile, a display of photographs showing people’s own interpretations of Antony Gormley figures – dubbed “terras” – in unusual locations will be on show in the Living Coasts café during August. Living Coasts is a registered charity.

For more information go to www.livingcoasts.org.uk or ring (01803) 202470.