Verity

A quick blip as this will be our last day here in Devon. We've decided to return home later this evening to avoid the Friday traffic.

We made a snap decision to drive to Ilfracombe which is where we found Verity. After we had found somewhere to park that is.

Verity is 20.25 metres tall and weighs 25 tones. She is on long term loan to North Devon Council as a gift from Damien Hirst.

The sculpture is an allegory for truth and justice. Her stance is taken from Edgar Dega's Little Dancer Of Fourteen Years (c1881). An anatomical cross-section of her head and torso reveal her skull and the developing foetus inside her womb.

Standing on a base of scattered legal books, Verity holds the traditional symbols of Justice - a sword and scales. Representing truth, her scales are hidden and off-balance behind her back, whilst her sword is held confidently in her upstretched arm.

I would imagine there are split opinions about her. The gull seems to be enthusiastic.

After lunch we drove on to Croyde Bay. I wanted to go there as we had our first holiday with both girls, aged 1 and 4, back in 1987. I will dig out the old photos when we get back. The roads were pretty scary in places and I'd almost turned round when we came upon the NT car park at Baggy Point. Free parking for members (i.e. us), otherwise £10. I should do more research when we go on these trips.

We drove back to the cottage via Saunton Sands, and then Instow. I was hoping the Hocking's van would still be there on the beach, and it was, so we got our final 99s of the holiday.

Must go now to help with the packing.

One year ago:
It's Complicated