The Project

Wells Cathedral, in partnership with Niche 338 and Project Factory CIC, has raised funds to bring a new work by world-renowned sculptor Antony Gormley to the City of Wells in the late summer of 2021.

Built in local Doulting stone in phases between 1175 and 1450, Wells is considered the first wholly Gothic structure in the country. The first stage took about 80 years, culminating in the magnificent West Front. Adorning it are just under 400 “niches” each of which housed a carved stone sculpture. Today, even given the occasional iconoclastic outburst - most notably by the men under the Duke of Monmouth in his rebellion of 1685 against James II - just under 300 sculptures remain, making it probably the largest collection of medieval carving in the world.

Now this new work, specifically created by Gormley to be installed in the empty Niche 338, will undoubtedly inspire a new reading of this Gothic masterpiece while fashioning a dialogue between the medieval and the contemporary.

Gormley says: “I have chosen this niche for its position and its visibility: the book at the end of the bookshelf. I have used the orthogonal geometry of our modern habitat to evoke the body as a place rather than as a carrier of narrative illustrated by appearance and attribute. The work attempts to invoke the feeling of being isolated and exposed on this corner of a Gothic masterpiece. My purpose is to engage the eye and body of the viewer in empathic projection, to consider our time in the shelter of other times” 

Resident in its niche for 12-18 months, it will garner national, and indeed international, attention, attracting visitors and artlovers to the city and its surrounding attractions. While the funding to cover the transport and installation costs have been secured, we are still fundraising for an ambitious programme of associated events for the duration of the installation that will help both the community and new visitors to Wells engage with the West Front.  We are therefore looking to raise funds to make this happen and every donation of whatever size will help realise this exciting project.