Making sport stars into statues
Sculptor Tom Murphy and critic Eddy Frankel talk to Lee James about what makes a great sporting statue.
During Lionel Messi's tour of India last year, he witnessed the unveiling of a 70ft statue of himself in Kolkata. It's reportedly the biggest-ever statue of an athlete - but does that make it any better? Why are sculptures such a popular choice for honouring sporting greats, and what gives them their power?
Tom Murphy's sculptures have become a huge part of Liverpool's cultural identity. They can be seen everywhere from the city's John Lennon Airport to Anfield and Goodison Park, where he's created memorials to Liverpool and Everton legends Bill Shankly and Dixie Dean. He talks the BBC's Lee James through the process of creating his artworks, from commissioning to sculpting, and why small details and decisions you might not notice at first glance help to convey the soul of his subjects.
Art critic and Tottenham Hotspur fan Eddy Frankel discusses how clubs and sporting institutions use artworks to build a sense of identity and history, and to forge connections with their fans. He also explains why statues have extra power when they convey a sense of movement - and sticks up for a much-maligned effigy of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From the Winter Olympics to the Super Bowl, the Australian Open to the Diamond League, and netball to Formula 1. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like Ivory Coast legend Yaya Toure, boxing royalty Cecilia Braekhus and cycling sprint king Harrie Lavreysen, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from the referees who run VAR to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels.
And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email [email protected], or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore
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