A new work by Sir Antony Gormley (Trinity 1968) has been installed at King’s College Cambridge. The sculpture, titled True, for Alan Turing, was commissioned by King's as a visible recognition of the life and achievements of Alan Turing (KC 1931).
The work stands 3.7 meters tall and sits at the heart of the College, between Gibbs Building and Webb’s Court. It is made from 140 mm thick rolled Corten steel, a material frequently used by the artist, including for his most well-known work The Angel of the North.
A preparatory drawing for True, for Alan Turing. Courtesy of the Antony Gormley Studio.Alan Turing’s work on mathematics, computing, cryptography and biology continue to impact on the world today. His codebreaking work at Bletchley Park was virtually unknown at the time of his death in 1954 but is now celebrated through blockbuster films and books. His prosecution for homosexuality at a time when it was subject to criminal charges and vicious prejudice means that Turing has become an important icon in the history of gay emancipation and the long, ongoing difficult history of the public acceptance of homosexuality in Britain.
Speaking at King’s, Antony Gormley observed that “Alan Turing unlocked the door between the industrial and the information ages. I wanted to make the best sculpture I could to honour a man who was pivotal in changing the course of all our lives. It is not about the memorialisation of a death, but about a celebration of the opportunities that a life allowed.”
True, for Alan Turing, prior to installation. Image © the artist
Commenting on the materials used in the sculpture’s construction, Gormley noted “Corten contains 1% of copper which means it will oxidise over time, forming a rich red rust surface. The sculpture’s relationship with time and weather is an integral part of its character.”