Talking Statues

In “They’re a Bit Stiff, But Very Talkative“, Roslyn Sulcas talks about the ‘Talking Statues’ project which focuses on 35 technologically animated public statues situated throughout London and Manchester. Passersby can scan the barcode on the plaque next to the statue right onto an app on their phone, and just a few seconds later receive a phone call with a mini-monologue from Queen Victoria, Sherlock Holmes, or one of the many others. To make the project more personal and interactive, a range of actors and playwrights individually perform a monologue for their assigned character. One can’t help but appreciate all the effort and dedication it takes to bring an inanimate object to life.

In my opinion, this is one of the most interesting and thrilling projects created to this day. Personally, I can walk straight past Eleanor Roosevelt in Riverside Park, Simón Bolívar at the head of Avenue of the Americas, or the revered Balto in Central Park and not bat an eye. Like the creator of the project, Ms. Colette Hiller said, ”The average time spent in front of a painting is six seconds, but these monologues are 2 1/2 minutes and they encourage people to discover more afterwards.” Instead of obliviously walking past the statues, people are stimulated to learn more about the historical sightings around them. In addition to the historical aspect, spectators are also motivated to appreciate sculpture as a form of art. Sculptors dedicate their career to creating such structures thus it is significant that this initiative brings attention to their work.

People listening to John Barbirolli (British conductor and cellist) in central London

I also like how extremely personal this project was. Ms. Hiller surveyed all of England’s two densely populated cities to find statues that were the most appealing and interesting. She constantly kept the preferences and likings of the public in mind, and chose an interesting array of sculptures based on location, size, and compelling storyline. Evidently, her dedication is paying off as her project continues to make waves internationally. Hopefully, this project will expand in Washington, Chicago, and New York and continue to fire enthusiasm in minds everywhere.

12 Responses to "Talking Statues"

anandpoonai says:

September 15, 2014 at 9:46 pm

First off, the article you posted was extremely interesting and really grabbed my attention. I was very impressed about the synergy of the technological innovation and artistic expression expressed in your blog. I think its incredible how these statues not only catch the eye of the casual observer, but also provide monologues to enlighten the observer about the historical background of the art. After reading your blog, I really wanted to go see these statues right away because I think these creations really live up to the innovation we see nowadays. I like when you said, “In addition to the historical aspect, spectators are also motivated to appreciate sculpture as a form of art. Sculptors dedicate their career to creating such structures thus it is significant that this initiative brings attention to their work.” Sculptures, just like paintings and drawings, are very time consuming and important to the artists who create them, so I really like the fact that more attention is being brought upon these intriguing works of art.
ehughes1 says:

September 17, 2014 at 11:11 pm

This was such a great article to blog about! It’s refreshing to hear of new ways of displaying art, such as talking statues. These monologues breath life into the statues and allow viewers to interact with the art pieces. As you said, “One can’t help but appreciate all the effort and dedication it takes to bring an inanimate object to life.” It’s incredible how committed Colette Hiller was to creating this project from the ground up, which included: selecting the sculptures, getting the funds together, installing the smartphone technology on plaques, and casting playwrights and actors that matched well with its corresponding sculpture. It’s truly amazing how many people have finally stopped to appreciate the sculptures once they were given informative yet interesting monologues. If this Sing London project were expanded into major cities in America, I would be extremely excited to see and listen to these talking sculptures while using my smartphone for the complete and immersive experience.
Bethany Freynk says:

September 20, 2014 at 5:01 pm

“Talking Statues” is an inventive art installation that would be fascinating to experience. I would love to “talk” to a statue if this project were to expand overseas to New York City. Public art works are often under-appreciated by passerby in large cities and sculptors spend strenuous hours perfecting their work only for it to go unnoticed. With this initiative, both natives and tourists can admire such in- the- round artwork with a historical twist. People rarely stop to read plaques that describe significant historic events in the city they are visiting or even where they live. Now, anyone can stop and learn with this innovative and creative method. It is astounding that the creator, Ms. Hillel, selected the placement of the statues based on the population’s preference and truly personalized this city- wide exhibition. It would be amazing to be immersed by this original art form.
krystalau says:

September 20, 2014 at 6:50 pm

I think this is such a cute and unique art project, I would love to visit England just to experience these “Talking Statues” firsthand. I am a big fan of the show Sherlock, and receiving a call from him would be so cool. I really love that this project incorporates technology and how anyone with a smart phone can download this app and hear the statue come to life. I am a big fan of art installations that you can actually interact with, I think it makes it a lot more interesting and personal. I agree that a lot of people do not really take a second glance when they pass by a statue or any art work on the street, and this is a great way to stop and intrigue people to give the artists the appreciation they deserve. I hope we can see something similar in New York soon.
Susan Tenneriello says:

September 21, 2014 at 11:42 am

Fascinating trend! Good news–you can find plenty of apps for NYC walking tours. One useful site is NYC.Go. I don’t know how to embed a link here in the comments but there are many options listed under “attractions” (http://www.nycgo.com/articles/best-nyc-smartphone-apps/#Attractions). NYC.Go is useful for finding free events happening in all boroughs as well. Happily, we also see art installations along the same vein as “Talking Statues” by visual artists and even musicians. I believe there is one app that guides you on a musical tour of Greenwich Village. Although, you may have to pay for that app.
j96lee says:

September 21, 2014 at 4:37 pm

I absolutely love this concept of having talking statues. I think it will make people more appreciative of art and history. This is a really innovative and creative idea. This reminds me of the headphones that museums give out to provide more information on a piece of artwork or artist. I recently visited the Guggenheim Museum and I found that I actually only looked at a piece for seconds before moving on. It is absolutely intriguing to have a piece of artwork call you and give a brief summary of it’s history. I think connecting technology with artwork is a wonderful idea, especially because most people believe that technology has a hindering effect on art.
nicholasleung says:

September 21, 2014 at 9:48 pm

Awesome article! The talking statues idea is such a crazy advancement in artistic displays. In this day and age, I think it definitely helps to have an interactive exhibit. Instead of just staring at a still object, as amazing it may be, it’s a lot more fun and interesting to have something or someone teaching you about it as well. Perhaps this is a bad thing, too, for technology is now reaching into the realms of still art as well. Scary, but cool!
Beatrice Margolin says:

September 22, 2014 at 7:22 am

This really strikes me as such a clever idea. I definitely agree with you that I can walk by statues in the city without taking any notice, as can plenty of other people. It does not even surprise me that six seconds is the average time people spend looking at art, though it was an interesting statistic to read. However, an interactive project such as this one really grabs people’s attention and would make them stop and take the time to learn more about the rich history all around them. I hope this project continues to spread as well, as I think it would do wonders in helping people appreciate more of any city’s history.
christosbakalexis says:

September 22, 2014 at 10:53 am

I think this is creative way to interest people about history and an interactive way for children to see the world. Now mother or fathers who care for young ones and take them for strolls through the park can use this tech advancement to educated their kids from a young age, in an entertaining way. This is yet another way mankind is taking something and reshaping it to fit the needs of the current population. Job well done!
michalsudo says:

September 22, 2014 at 11:17 am

I agree with christosbakalexis when he said “this is a creative way to to interest people about history”, there are so many landmarks around us who’s significance we don’t even realize. About a block away from my high school there was a house that was marked as a historic landmark, I walked by it almost every single day and before I graduated I made it my mission to read the entire plaque the detailed it’s significance. The house was a pre-revolutionary war house that saw combat during the war, I certainly don’t regret making an effort to get informed about it. What troubles me is the amount of other historic landmarks we walk by every day, most of which we don’t even realize are there; something like talking statues would be a great way for people to inform themselves about where they live, and in turn maybe even gain some appreciation for it.
Layanah Nsouli says:

September 26, 2014 at 10:09 am

The idea of “Talking Statues” is very innovative and really breaks the boundary between the artwork and the viewer. It encourages us to actively and thoughtfully view art by thinking about the history and story behind it. By doing so, we break the common habit of submissively viewing art as something irrelevant to our lives and the modern world. Like you, I hope that this project will continue to expand.
stephenesses says:

October 2, 2014 at 12:29 pm

I think that this project is fantastic because it will really engage people and is personal, as you said. It will do a better job of engaging people and causing them to really think more about the person or thing they are hearing about. Thing like this have been used such as walking guides in museums, and all of the times that I have used them, I have had positive experiences. It is much easier to learn and be interested when listening rather than just reading a plaque.

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