'Subtle hints of insecurity' in Winehouse statue, says sculptor
Amy Winehouse has been immortalised with a life-size statue.
Fans and relatives gathered on what would have been the star’s 31st birthday as the bronze figure was unveiled in Camden, north London – where the star lived before her death in July 2011 after a public struggle with addiction.
The 175cm statue features high heels and Winehouse’s trademark beehive hairdo.
It was unveiled in Camden’s Stables Market, where it will be a permanent memorial to the Back To Black singer.
It was sculpted by London-based artist Scott Eaton after he was introduced to Winehouse’s father Mitch.
Mr Eaton said: “We met to talk about my work, the design process and ideas for the sculpture. I developed a few drawings and we took things from there.
“I’ve always been a fan of Amy’s music and have the utmost respect for her as an artist. From a sculptor’s perspective, Amy has an amazing style and energy.
“My sketchbooks are full of hundreds of subtle variations on how she would stand.
“The pose had to capture Amy’s attitude and strength, but also give subtle hints of insecurity. The hand on the hip, the turn of the head, the grabbing of the skirt, the turned in foot – these are all small elements that contribute to the personality of the piece.
“The design is not based on any single snapshot, photo or moment in time, but an amalgamation of influences.
“Hopefully by taking many important moments in her history and drawing on those, the piece comes close to capturing the essence of Amy.
“Similarly her wardrobe is a collection of influences, informed by her style but not an exact copy of any particular piece.”
The star’s father described seeing the statue as “incredibly emotional” but said its creator had “done an amazing job in capturing her”.
Mr Winehouse said: “It is like stopping her in a beautiful moment in time. We really hope Amy’s fans love the statue.”
Following her death the family set up the Amy Winehouse Foundation to help tackle the impact of drugs and alcohol misuse on young people.
