You can't really miss her. If you’re wandering down toward the harbor in Ilfracombe, she basically hits you like a ton of bricks—or, more accurately, 25 tonnes of bronze and steel. Standing at 66 feet tall, the verity sculpture damien hirst created isn't just a piece of art; it’s a full-on landmark that has spent over a decade messing with people's heads.
She's huge. She's pregnant. And honestly, she's half-skinned.
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One side of her is a fairly standard, albeit giant, bronze woman holding a sword. But walk around to the other side, and things get weird. Hirst decided to peel back the layers, revealing the internal anatomy, the musculature, and a very visible fetus curled up in the womb. It’s a lot to take in while you're just trying to find a good spot for fish and chips.
What Is Verity Actually Trying to Say?
Hirst calls her a "modern allegory of truth and justice." The name itself, Verity, literally means "truth" in Latin (veritas). But since this is Hirst we’re talking about—the guy who put a shark in formaldehyde—nothing is ever just a simple statue.
The symbolism is layered on thick. You've got the sword of justice held high in her right hand, but the scales are tucked away behind her back. She’s standing on a pile of legal books, which some people think is a nod to how the law can be used as a pedestal or perhaps how it’s being trampled. It’s kinda confusing, right? Is justice being upheld, or is it being hidden?
The stance is a direct riff on Edgar Degas’s Little Dancer of Fourteen Years. Hirst has a thing for that specific pose—he used it before for a similar, though smaller, piece called Virgin Mother. By making Verity so massive, he’s forcing you to look at the "truth" of the human body in a way that feels both medical and mythical.
The Controversy: Why Locals Weren't All On Board
When Verity showed up on the back of a massive lorry in October 2012, the town didn't exactly throw a parade. Well, some did. Others sent over 300 letters of protest to the North Devon Council.
One local resident famously told a planning meeting that while he wasn't a prude—boasting that his bedroom wall was covered in Kylie Minogue calendars—he found the giant naked woman offensive. Others called it "grotesque" or "degrading to women." Art critic David Lee was even harsher, calling it a "monument to Hirst’s ego" on Sky News.
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Why Ilfracombe?
You might wonder why a world-famous, ultra-wealthy artist would dump a multi-million-pound statue in a quiet Devon seaside town. Simple: Hirst lives nearby in Combe Martin. He owns property in Ilfracombe, including a restaurant called The Quay (which has since closed). He didn't sell the statue to the town; he loaned it for 20 years. That means she’s staying put until at least 2032.
How They Actually Built This Thing
You don't just "make" a 20-meter tall statue. It was a massive engineering headache.
- The Foundry: She was cast in over 40 separate sections at the Pangolin Editions foundry in Gloucestershire.
- The Materials: Most of her is phosphor-bronze, but the internal "spine" is a single massive piece of stainless steel.
- The Sword: Interestingly, the sword and the upper arm aren't bronze. They’re made from polymer-strengthened fiber because bronze would have been too heavy to hold up there safely in those coastal winds.
- The Test: They actually put a model of her in a wind tunnel to make sure she wouldn't blow over or snap during a North Devon storm.
She’s actually about 10 inches taller than the Angel of the North. Rumor has it Hirst added those law books at the base just to make sure he beat Antony Gormley’s record for the tallest statue in the UK at the time. (The Kelpies in Scotland have since taken that title, but Verity is still a giant).
Visiting the Verity Sculpture Damien Hirst Today
If you're planning a trip, here's the lowdown. She’s located right at the end of the pier. On a sunny day, the bronze glows, and she looks almost heroic. On a gray, foggy day, she looks like something out of a sci-fi horror movie.
The Best Way to See Her:
- Walk the Pier: Get right up under her. Looking up at the flayed side from the base is the only way to really appreciate the anatomical detail.
- The Harbor View: From across the water, you get a sense of her scale compared to the tiny fishing boats.
- Wait for the Light: Golden hour makes the bronze look incredible, but some people swear she looks better—and more ominous—at dusk.
Honestly, whether you think she's a masterpiece or an eyesore, you have to admit she's done exactly what public art is supposed to do. She turned a quiet harbor into a conversation piece. People who never cared about contemporary art now have very strong opinions about it.
What to Do Next
If you're heading to Ilfracombe, don't just look at the statue and leave. The town has grown a lot of "curious coastal charm" around her.
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- Check out the local galleries: A bunch of independent art spots have popped up since Verity arrived.
- Grab a coffee at the harbor: There are several spots with outdoor seating where you can just sit and watch people’s faces as they see her for the first time. It’s great entertainment.
- Walk the Torrs: If you want a different perspective, hike up the nearby cliffs. Seeing her from high above makes her look like a tiny toy soldier guarding the Atlantic.
The verity sculpture damien hirst created isn't going anywhere for a while. If you're in North Devon, go see her. Love her or hate her, you won't forget her.
Actionable Insight: If you're visiting Verity, check the weather forecast for "sea fret" or coastal fog. Seeing the sword emerge through the mist is widely considered the most dramatic way to experience the piece, though the harbor-side restaurants are much more pleasant on a clear day.
Practical Tip: Parking near the harbor can be a nightmare in peak summer. Park at the top of the town (near the Landmark Theatre) and walk down—it's only 10 minutes and saves you the stress of navigating the narrow pier roads.