Bronze statue to celebrate city roots of footballing legend Denis Law approved
11 May 2021
A statue celebrating Aberdeen footballing legend Denis Law is to be sited in a prominent place in the city centre following approval at committee today.
Aberdeen City Council’s city growth and resources committee members agreed it would set back from Broad Street beside Marischal Square and facing the Robert the Bruce statue.
The site was preferred by both the artist and the Denis Law Legacy Trust as it involves a narrative around the two statues facing each other and sharing the same sculptor, materials and plinths.
The artist who created the bronze statue of Denis Law is Alan B Herriot who is a figurative sculptor of international reputation and has worked for the National Trust for Scotland and Historic Scotland. He was also commissioned by Aberdeen City Council to create the statue of King Robert the Bruce sited outside Marischal College.
The bronze statue is entitled ‘Legend’, which is already build and is currently in storage in Aberdeen, shows the former footballing great with his right arm raised.
City growth and resources convener Councillor Douglas Lumsden said: “I’m delighted that the statue of one of our footballing greats is to be sited in the same street as our beautiful Marischal College and will be reflected in the glass at Marischal Square.
“The statue will be a fitting and long-lasting tribute to Denis Law and I’m sure will be a popular addition to the sculpture trail around the city.”
The estimated costs of siting the bronze Denis Law statue near Provost Skene's House are anticipated to be up to £25,000. These costs cover the transport, installation, a bronze plate for the statue and a plinth with an inscription, and the committee agreed to ask the Trust to cover some of these installation costs. The City Council would inherit the ownership of the statue and would be responsible for ongoing maintenance costs.
The location for the statue would require the existing installed sculpture to be moved to a suitable location.
The committee also agreed for officers to investigate more details about the Trust’s proposed Printfield 10 Project to include public artworks in the Printfield area of Denis Law.
The report to committee can be viewed at Printfield 10 Project Denis Law Statue Relocation 5.pdf (aberdeencity.gov.uk).