Iconic Figurehead II sculpture finds new home at Marjon

Iconic Figurehead II sculpture finds new home at Marjon

31 March 2023

Plymouth Marjon University has welcomed 'Figurehead II' by artist Alexandre da Cunha to its campus. The sculpture was commissioned by The Box ahead of its launch in September 2020 and was one of the highlights of its ‘Making It’ exhibition, which featured the work of five different international artists.

Figurehead II was created by the internationally renowned Alexandre da Cunha whose work has also been featured in the Tate Modern.

Brazilian-born da Cunha often appropriates and subtly changes found objects, giving them new life and inviting audiences to see things from a different perspective. As part of Plymouth's 'Public Art Plan', it was installed next to the Marjon Arts Centre at the University in March 2023, creating a striking new addition to the University’s ever-growing arts and culture offer.

Sarah McAdam, Dean of the School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at Plymouth Marjon University, said:

Concrete has such a history in Plymouth and at Marjon, and this feels like the perfect home for this piece of work. We've been pushing the boundaries of innovation for over 180 years, and we don't intend to slow down. This collaboration between The Box and Marjon helps to bring art and culture to the north of the city and ensures that our local communities can easily access the arts.

A close up detail of Figurehead II by Alexandre da Cunha at Marjon, Plymouth

Victoria Pomery, Chief Executive Officer at The Box, added:

Figurehead II proved really popular with visitors when it was displayed at The Box, and I’m delighted we’ve been able to find a permanent home for the sculpture here in the city. It’s a great addition to the public realm at Marjon and the city’s wider public art offer, and a really positive legacy from our changing exhibition programme.

Brutalist in style, Figurehead II echoes the the post-war construction of Plymouth following the Blitz of World War Two, as well as the original 1970s campus architecture at Plymouth Marjon University, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in the city and 100 years of being the combined colleges of St Mark and St John (Marjon) this year.

Find out more about it Figurehead II.

Find out more about Marjon.