A professor of 17th century literature is lobbying for a statue of playwright Aphra Behn to erected in the city where she was born.
Professor Elaine Hobby, of Loughborough University, has joined with the campaign group A Is for Aphra, the Canterbury Commemoration Society and Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries to fight for a bronze figure to be placed in the City of Canterbury, in Kent.
Four artists have been shortlisted from 47 bids and are in the process of creating a 50cm bronze maquette of their design. The public will then be able to vote for their favourite this summer with the winning statue expected to be unveiled by summer 2023.
The finalists are:
Victoria Atkinson
Victoria is a sculptor based on the Kent-Sussex border. Her statue of Rudyard Kipling stands in Burwash High Street. Victoria’s design, called ‘Astrea’ hopes to show Behn’s many personas and her strength of character and resilience. Victoria says, ‘As a woman, I’m aware of some of the prejudices and obstacles Aphra had to face and can only marvel at the way she used what means she had to survive…
