Whenever I walk past this amazing building designed by PLP Architecture I always stop.
The building is a modern interpretation of a traditional mansion block, featuring terracotta cladding, cast steel, and glass bays and houses the famous restaurant Cipriani, worth a visit if you have not been.
The building itself is a high end mixed use development, luxury apartments, office space and retail/restaurant space.
But it is the untitled art work (2003-5) by Ian Hamilton Finlay, Scottish poet, writer, artist and gardener often associated with his text-based, Neoclassical style I always take time to ponder, regard and take in. It’s a quote that takes a little getting your head around to actually understand.
When man obeys without being presumed good, there is neither liberty nor a native land," attributed to the French Revolutionary leader Louis-Antoine Saint-Just (1767–1794).
I think what it means is meant to highlight the dangers of blind obedience and authoritarianism. It implies that if everyone just follows or obeys out of fear or coercion rather than inherent virtue or shared values, a society lacks true freedom and national identity. Supporting the idea of democracy when governments and people in power don’t lead with integrity people must challenge and stand up for what is right.
The quote made me do a little research into the author of it.
Louis Antoine se Saint Just was a Jacobian leader during the French Revolution, and a close friend of Maximilien Robespierre. He served as his most trusted friend during the period of Jacobian rule(1793–94) in the French First Republic as military commisar and legislator responsible for the political education, morale, and ideological loyalty of military units. But he achieved a lasting reputation as the face of reign of terror, defended use of violence against opponents of the government, supervised the arrest of many prominent figures of the revolution and had many guillotined. He denounced King Louis XVI and too had him executed. He was, therefore called an 'Angel of Death'. He is credited with the constitution of 1793. Finally, when his violent activities became unbearable, he was arrested along side Robespierre on July 27 1794 and they were both executed the next day along with 20 of their supporters.
Whilst Louis Antoine is not considered a hero as figures like Napoleon are he is revered by some as an uncompromising revolutionary idealist, a deeply divisive and complex historical figure whose legacy fluctuates between an incorruptible patriot and a complete monster.
I always think when I stand and stare at the artwork that happiness and pain always sit side by side and without one you don’t get the other.
Louis Antoine shows When you love something so vehemently the lengths you will go to to protect it.
The next time you are passing take a look. It’s worth taking a moment to absorb this work of art, free for everyone to experience.