Is the official name of the huge bronze sculpture for "superposition women sitting there," Henry Moore (Henry Moore) creation, induce the London blitz huddled in shelters.
East Enders, the people who live in the nearby, known as "old," a symbol of the invasion, the dignity of the person facing repression and elegant works of art.
But now, the old may have to go.
Cash-strapped district of London tower bridge of London, one of the poorest communities in the UK, plans to sell the statue - estimated value is as high as 20 million pounds ($30 million).
Art enthusiasts fear that such a famous sculpture sales will build a worrying precedent, triggered a sell-off in hundreds of smaller work placement in the park, public buildings and small community in the struggle of the local museum, in order to balance their budgets in the longest, deepest economic growth has slowed since the great depression.
"If sell old Flo smoothly through, it could open the floodgates, said:" Sally Wrampling, in art funds policy, national art and fund-raising charity campaigning, to stop the sale of one of the group.
Recommendations reflected the difficulties facing many struggling families: through the hard times, you sell the house?
London tower bridge, one recent study found that 42% of children live in poverty, in red is 1 million pounds.
Sculpture, not even in the boroughs of 15 years. It is mobile authorities demolished housing project has been in a sculpture park in the north of England. The committee said, just separate insurance for a large number of bronze taxpayers' burden.
"We made the decision of a heavy heart, said:" rania khan, who focus on cultural issues where the commissioner. "We must make hard decisions."
Local authorities across the country are being cut funding, the central government aims to balance the budget and reduce borrowing. Local government funds will fall by 33%, in real terms, between April 2011 and March 2015, according to the local government association. Institute for fiscal studies said, people often play is poor, urban areas like London tower bridge is the most difficult, because their consumption began.
About 2000 in the British museum is a local transaction. On meeting to sell a painting of the LS Lowry and Southampton council support plans to sell 2006 auguste rodin bronze in the face of public protest. Museum association has proposed northampton council held the funeral monuments of Egypt sales estimated value of 2 million pounds, until you can do more for the consultation.
The depth of the recession and lack of hope that things will improve soon, add to the debate.
Office for budget responsibility, an independent agency established in 2010, make recommendations to governments, suggests than originally expected slow economic growth, reducing taxes, and extend the government's austerity plan to the latest data.
One thing is certain: the London tower bridge, 254000 people in the community, urgent need money.
Khan says she believes her voters, Moore, is the son of a miner and lifelong socialism died in 1986, will be mobile. She know women will find it hard to restricted issuing welfare proposals - for them, as low as 5 people can make a huge difference - and family live in a house on the wall of mold growth.
, "khan said:" if he wants to sell the sculpture that will benefit thousands of people's life, the London tower bridge... I think he would approve.
Moore attended art school scholarships, veterans. He became fascinated with the human form, the curve of the ups and downs, rolling hills and other functional properties. His favorite subject is backward of images of women, like the old.
The statue adopted good drapability, Moore tracking to his observations in underground blitz. The BBC in an interview in 1966, Moore talked against Nazi London cover of a barrage of fear and joy of love. His paintings for him: he never sat in the sketch, but wait until the next day, attracted from memory - not capture in their temporary bedroom.
Ellen Wilkinson, one of the most important Moore scholars, artists in London tower bridge the hardship of sympathy, but want to see the way he sculptures, their purpose is to can see - in public places.
"Public sculpture is very important for him," Wilkinson said. "He is very picky, it is placed."
Moore's discount London county council, a forerunner of city management, in 1962 to sell old statues of Flo conditions will be on public display. It is placed in a public housing project.
East is by Nazi bombs hit one of the most serious areas, directly connected to the work and its inhabitants.
Now, the memory of war has disappeared. Tower bridge in London's median age is 29, the lowest in London, 43% of the population was born outside the UK, according to the latest census data.
Old Flo's story has yet to be told that the current generation artist Patrick brill, aliases and Bob and Roberta Smith said.
"If we do not cherish them, we lost a little bit of our history," he said. "If you lost your history, you lost a little bit, really."
However, the old Flo had a fan club. Director Danny Boyle's film, such as "slumdog millionaire" and "trainspotting", signed an open letter, called for the security council to revoke the decision. A flash mob people wore old Flo appeared in the London tower bridge office, November sales of protest. Another statue placed requirements of London boroughs.
Critics argue that by selling the money raised will disappear quickly, old fellows will be disappeared in the foreign employers of hedge funds or private collection of Russian oligarchs, Moore's message is hidden
Congressman Rushanara ali, who represents part of the London tower bridge, in a December debate questions, put forward suggestion is more the result is "profligate and special waste," than in tough economic times.
"The bonfire of public art is not the answer," ali said. "People ask, where the end? What kind of precedent, and will be set to other areas, might as well to make such a sales deal with financial challenges?"



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