Statues - Hither & Thither

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Hull
(Kingston-upon-Hull)
East Riding of Yorkshire
Yorkshire & Humberside

High Street
(Hull Streetlife Museum, garden)

Toad - Reflective Colours

Larkin with Toads

Sue Kershaw & Victoria Merrett
2010

Description

Large toad covered with mosaic in different colours.

It is one of the forty colourful, artist-decorated toad sculptures placed around Hull as part of the 'Larkin 25' celebrations, marking the 25th anniversary of the death of poet Philip Larkin. It was Hull’s largest ever public art project. For three months, from 21st July to 25th September 2010, the streets were populated with these 40 toads. Larkin lived in Hull for the last 30 years of his life and the sculptures are inspired by his poems 'Toads' and 'Toads Revisited'.

The toad 'Reflective Colours', decorated by Sue Kershaw, is in 2013 placed in the garden of the Streetlife Museum and is probably the only one left. In 2010 it stood in Queen Street.

Information Sign

Larkin with toads

Reflective colours

Artist: Sue Kershaw
Initial Concept:
Victoria Merrett

Sponsor:
Arc - The Architecture
Centre for Hull and
the Humber Region

Sculptors

Sue Kershaw, mosaic artist (Website).
Victoria Merrett (no information)

Sources & Information

The Guardian, 30 May 2017, 'What a hole': Hull has embraced Philip Larkin – but did the love go both ways?.
The Philip Larkin Society, Larkin with Toads.
Toad trail leaflet, (PDF on-line).
Geograph, Larkin toad (6).
Sue Kershaw, 23 February 2013 Mosaic toad by Sue Kershaw on the move.

Locatie (N 53°44'37" - W 0°19'48") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

Item Code: gbyh032; Photograph: 25 July 2019
Of each statue we made photos from various angles and also detail photos of the various texts.
If you want to use photos, please contact us via the contact form (in Dutch, English or German).
© Website and photos: René & Peter van der Krogt

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