Controversial Nude Sculpture Opens In Former Coalmine



After two years of construction and a cost of $4,801,200, “The Lady of the North,” an enormous sculpture of a naked woman, has opened to the public at the former Northumberland coalmine in England.

The 1,200-foot piece of art, with breasts rising almost 100 feet, is carved into the landscape, with the goal being to compete with the Angel of the North, a contemporary angel sculpture, and earn over £1million (about $1,600,400) each year. Visitors can now stroll along a four-mile system of paths along the woman’s curves to various viewing platforms on her face, breasts, hip, knee and ankle.

Originally intended as a gift to the public to atone for the mine’s disruption, The Banks Group, the mining company that extracted the coal, worked with Viscount Ridley, who owns the estate, and American artist Charles Jencks to create the masterpiece. However, the sculpture is causing controversy from people who think it’s ridiculous and demeaning to women.

“I don’t believe it is demeaning to women, men or the human species as a whole, in fact it celebrates all of that,” Jencks told the Daily Mail. “… I profoundly believe that, given time, people will not find any offense in this, and will grow to love her.”

What’s your opinion?