Tide turns:100 naked men can stay on beach
LONDON (Reuters) - One hundred naked men have been allowed to stay on a northwest beach.
After months of wrangling over safety and environmental concerns, one of the country's most striking art installations has been granted a permanent home.
The tide turned for artist Anthony Gormley's sculpture -- 100 life-size human statues spread over a northwest seashore -- when the local council voted for it to stay.
Gormley, who modelled the Iron Men on his own body, said he was "absolutely delighted" by the decision.
"It's wonderful that my homeless, wandering tribe of men have found a permanent home. The idea that a part of the beach can now become a permanent place of contemplation and reverie is wonderful," he added.
The cast-iron figures, each weighing about 700 kilograms (1,543 lb), stand facing the sea horizon and are submerged at high tide.
The statues, entitled "Another Place," were initially given a permit for temporary installation.
The works, which had earlier been displayed in Germany, Norway and Belgium, became a major tourist attraction on Crosby Beach near Liverpool. Continued...
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