The Stories that Shape Us, a word sculpture by Stortford artist Nicola Anthony, is now on permanent show at South Mill Arts. Josh Dean MP cut the ribbon.

A sculpture by Bishop’s Stortford artist Nicola Anthony now stands permanently at the entrance to South Mill Arts on South Road. The piece, called The Stories that Shape Us, was unveiled on Wednesday 30 September, when Josh Dean, MP for Hertford and Stortford, cut the ribbon with the artist, South Mill Arts said in a press release on 21 October.

It is the first permanent public work Anthony has put in her own town. Her public sculptures stand in London, Los Angeles, Colorado, Washington DC and Singapore, according to the release, and her largest piece to date, The Words that Bind Us, filled Durham Cathedral last summer and drew 150,000 visitors.

“This launch feels different to anything I’ve done before,” she said. “Putting something permanent in my own town means so much.”

What the sculpture is

The work is a set of open rings and an upright panel with words cut through the metal, set on a bed of pale stones among the planting by the arts centre’s doors. South Mill Arts says it “invites viewers to discover fragments of the stories and songs which help us grow strong as individuals, and as a society.”

Three metal rings and an upright panel with cut-out lettering stand on a bed of white stones in a planted garden, with picnic tables and a parasol behind
The Stories that Shape Us in the garden at South Mill Arts, with the lettering cut through each ring. Photo: supplied by South Mill Arts

Anthony explained the idea behind it in the release:

“At the heart of the artwork is the idea that words and stories can become sources of empowerment, courage and transformation, and that feels especially at home at South Mill Arts.”

She said she hopes the piece will bring more attention to the town’s cultural scene and inspire the next generation of artists.

“I began making public artworks because I love the idea that you can just bump into art in the middle of ordinary life. Those moments of thought and curiosity in the places we share are important. This launch feels different to anything I’ve done before, putting something permanent in my own town means so much. Stortford has an incredible community who enjoy culture and creativity, so I hope the sculpture becomes a catalyst for more conversations and creative encounters.”

The sculpture's rings of cut lettering in a planted bed beside the blue-framed glass doors and brick wall of South Mill Arts
The sculpture beside the glass entrance doors of South Mill Arts. Photo: supplied by South Mill Arts

The unveiling

The launch on 30 September was for the press and the art community. Speeches were given by the Mayor of Bishop’s Stortford, Councillor Martin Adams; Steve Connors, chair of Bishop’s Stortford Museum and Arts CIO, the charity that runs South Mill Arts; Josh Dean; and Anthony herself.

Guests stand around the sculpture in the South Mill Arts garden at the unveiling, with a blue ribbon on posts in front and the Mayor wearing the chain of office
The Mayor of Bishop's Stortford with guests beside the sculpture at the unveiling. Photo: supplied by South Mill Arts

Local musician Tabitha Lily performed after the unveiling, and Flo Horswell, a sculpture specialist and founder of Harvey Horswell, led a question and answer session with the artist.

Two people cut a blue ribbon stretched between posts in front of the sculpture, with striped deckchairs behind
The ribbon-cutting in the South Mill Arts garden. Photo: supplied by South Mill Arts

Giles Gear, operations director at South Mill Arts, said:

“We are so proud to be the new home for this stunning sculpture by Nicola Anthony. South Mill Arts exists to serve every corner of our community, and having a renowned piece of artwork front and centre, for everyone to enjoy, every single day, perfectly captures what we’re about. ‘Art’ is literally in our name, and to have this greet you as you arrive or leave the building is, for me, a huge marker of who we are and what we stand for.”

Who Nicola Anthony is

Anthony was born in London in 1984 and lives and works in Bishop’s Stortford. She is known for large-scale text works and public commissions, and her work often takes on human rights, climate change and equality, drawing on her British Indian roots, the release says.

According to South Mill Arts, her public commissions include pieces at the USC Shoah Foundation in Los Angeles, the National University of Ireland, Lim Chin Tsong Palace in Myanmar and the National Design Centre in Singapore. She was a finalist for the Sovereign Art Prize in 2021 and won the New Voices of Ireland Award in 2019. This autumn she is also making a permanent light installation for the USC Shoah Foundation’s new headquarters in Washington DC. Her own site is nicolaanthony.co.uk.

The sculpture's rings rising from a planted bed in front of the South Mill Arts building, its name in large letters on the red upper wall
The sculpture below the South Mill Arts sign. Photo: supplied by South Mill Arts

What it means for you

The sculpture is outside, in the planted bed at the entrance to South Mill Arts, 1-3 South Road, Bishop’s Stortford CM23 3JG, so you will pass it on the way into any show, film or the museum. It is there for good: South Mill Arts says it will stay on permanent display.

The paved path to the South Mill Arts entrance, with the sculpture in a planted bed beside it and a palm tree on the left
The path to the South Mill Arts entrance, with the sculpture in the bed beside it. Photo: supplied by South Mill Arts

The arts centre is going through changes of its own: the town council plans to buy the site for £2.97 million and lease it back to the charity for 125 years (our report from 14 October). For what else is on in town, see things to do in Bishop’s Stortford.