A gold-coloured metal art piece in Farnham, Surrey, has been relocated to a university garden. The installation, which cost nearly £20,000, was moved after residents claimed the sculptures burned children's hands during hot weather.
The £19,500 investment in gold-coloured cones
The installation, titled A Hand's Turn, consists of 20 spinning, gold-coloured metal cones of varying sizes. According to the report, the project was funded by the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) at a cost of £19,500 and was the work of artists Natalie Bradwell and Livia Spinolo.
The artists intended for the shapes to evoke local industrial and craft history, specifically referencing pottery vessels,wool spinning spindles, and the traditional roofs used for drying hops. Natalie Bradwell expressed a desire for the community to develop a new affection for the pieces, noting that they were designed to be hugged and played with, even suggesting that their percussive qualities add to the experience.
Why residents likened 'A Hand's Turn' to anti-tank traps
Despite the artistic intent, the installation became a flashpoint for local frustration in Farnham. Residents used a retrospective planning application to voice their distaste, with some describing the work as an eyesore.. The visual comparisons were stark: some locals likned the cones to the famous cone bra worn by Madonna, while others compared them to the Daleks from Doctor Who.
Beyond the aesthetics, the report says that safety became the primary concern. Resident Patricia Humphreys compared the structures to anti-tank traps, while Angela Vinnicombe and Ann Marion Hicks warned that the metal became dangerously hot under the summer sun. Sue Banks further claimed that young children had been heard crying out after touching the heated surfaces.
A retreat to the UCA sculpture garden's foliage
To resolve the conflict, the cones have been moved from their public position to a sculpture garden on the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) campus in Farnham. a press officer for the university confirmed that the new location is sheltered by tall trees and foliage, which should prevent the metal from reaching the hazardous temperatures that plagued the original site.
The move has been framed as a victory for both the arts and the community. Sophy Smith, the executive dean at UCA's Farnham School of Creative and Cultural Industries, described the work as public art at its best. Similarly, the Mayor of Farnham, Graham White, told the BBC that he hopes the installation will continue to inspire future generations of artists now that it is in a safer environment.
The missing safety data on the 2023 installation
This incident reflects a recurring tension in urban planning where avant-garde installations clash with the practicalities of public safety and community taste. When public funds—or university grants—are used for outdoor art , the failure to account for thermal conductivity in direct sunlight can turn a cultural asset into a liability.
However, several critical details remain unverified in the reporting. It is unclear if any formal medical reports were filed regarding the children's burns, or if a professional heat-absorption study was conducted before the 2023 installation. Furthermore, the report does not specify who bore the financial cost of the relocation process, leaving it unknown if the university or the artists funded the move.
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