By Cara Sulieman
AFTER a week in place, a sculpture has already been welcomed to the capital by being decked out in a bright pink bikini.
The figure of a man – part of the new Antony Gormley ‘6 Times’ installation – had the luminous swimsuit tied round him at the weekend.
He is one of six life-size figures placed along the Water of Leith from the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art and the sea at Leith Docks.
Due to be unveiled next week, the statues are still being installed and it is just days since this particular figure was put in place.
The bikini-clad statue is standing in the middle of the Water of Leith in Stockbridge and can be seen by passer-bys on the busy Deanhaugh Street over the river.
An onlooker said: “I don’t know how they got down there; they must have gone up the river to get to it.
“It’s right in the middle of the water as well. It’s quite funny really and cheers it up.”
The six bronze sculptures are designed to bring art to communities that don’t usually experience art.
The National Galleries for Scotland refused to comment specifically on the bikini, but said they were pleased the public were interacting with the sculptures.
A spokeswoman for the galleries said: “We are delighted that the installation of Antony Gormley’s project for Edinburgh is nearing completion, and have been very pleased by the supporting comments received from the public while this has been happening.”
The trail starts in the grounds of the Modern Art Gallery in Dean Bridge and work their way down the Water of Leith.
The sixth figure stares out at the Forth from Leith Docks.
Antony Gormely designed the Angel of the North and the statues at Crosby Beach near Liverpool.
