David Shrigley: The Mantis Muse
David Shrigley has installed The Mantis Muse, a 3-meter-tall praying mantis sculpture, at his former school in Leicestershire. Intended for students to respond to in art classes, the work highlights the essential role that art plays in education, and the need for greater investment in arts education in British schools.
Shrigley comments: “I made The Mantis Muse because I believe that art is a fundamental part of how children learn; whether that’s by doing it, viewing it, or using creativity as a way to explore other thoughts and concepts. Schools that lose sight of this and start to treat art as non-essential are depriving students of the rounded education that every child deserves.”
The Mantis Muse is a towering, 3-metres sculpture made from steel and fibreglass, which uses a mechanical system to rotate the insect’s head. It intentionally echoes David’s Life Model (2012) installation, which was displayed at The Turner Prize in 2013.
David hopes that The Mantis Muse will spark a national conversation about the importance of the arts in how children learn and encourage the Government to safeguard arts education for future generations.
