Latest news with #LaylaKhoo
The Independent
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
National Trust covers up artwork with JK Rowling's name after public interference
The National Trust has removed a piece of art featuring the name of JK Rowling after it was 'tampered with by a member of the public'. Visitors to Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire between April and November 2024 were invited to stitch the names of women they found inspirational and should be celebrated onto a textile display. Until recently, the fabric artwork, which had been named 'A Virtuous Woman' had been on display with the Harry Potter author's name sewn onto it seven times, but on two occasions had been stitched over by other participants. However, feminist campaigner Jean Hatchet shared images on X of her and another woman unpicking the stitching, saying they had 'corrected' the work. As a result, the National Trust said it had removed the artwork to 'protect it from further tampering and damage'. Ms Hatchet criticised the response, saying she removed the 'stitching with the correct tool', took 'great time and care', and did not damage it. In recent years, Ms Rowling has divided opinion with her gender critical views, which has seen her argue trans women should not be allowed into female-only spaces. Activists have called her transphobic, a claim which she denies. The artwork was designed by Layla Khoo in association with the National Trust and the University of Leeds, with other names to appear including Baroness Margaret Thatcher, Taylor Swift and the word 'mum'. A National Trust spokesperson said: 'The artwork was open to contributions for 8 months and closed in November when the piece was finished and put on public display. 'During the participation phase, JK Rowling's name was stitched onto the piece seven times and in two instances it was stitched over by other participants. At the time the artwork was completed and subsequently hung, JK Rowling's name appeared five times without any overstitching. 'We ask people not to damage or tamper with artworks once they are finished and on public display. The piece has been taken off display for investigation and to protect it from further tampering or damage. We take all claims and incidents of damage to items in our care seriously and investigate each one.'
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
National Trust in row over artwork that references JK Rowling
The National Trust has become embroiled in a row over JK Rowling. Last year, the Trust property of Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire installed an interactive artwork titled A Virtuous Woman, which has since become the focus of a gender dispute. The large embroidery at the stately home allowed visitors to stitch onto it the names of inspirational women, with Marie Curie and Margaret Thatcher among the names stitched into the artwork. One visitor added the name of Rowling, who has become a vocal opponent of gender ideology and transgender access to women's spaces. Rowling's name was subsequently struck out with a series of new stitches in the colours of the transgender flag, while other names were left untouched. The writer Jean Hatchet, a supporter of Rowling, visited Hardwick in May and unpicked the stitches in protest. The National Trust has now responded to this protest by removing the contested artwork entirely while assessing what it called the 'damage' to the piece. Women's Rights Network for Derbyshire and Staffordshire, which supports the sex-based rights for women and girls, has branded the Trust's actions 'shameful'. The group urged the Trust to avoid 'complicity in enabling the disrespecting of a courageous woman's name'. The Trust said that it had no involvement with the artwork itself other than allowing it to be displayed at Hardwick. The piece was created by Layla Khoo, an artist at the University of Leeds. A disclaimer accompanying the piece stated that the names of women added to the artwork did not represent the values of either the artist or the National Trust. The Trust said that the artwork was open to be altered until November last year, after which it was not to be tampered with. This means that Ms Hatchet's intervention to remove the stitches in Rowling's name constitutes damage to the finished piece. A National Trust spokesman said: 'The artwork was open to contributions for eight months and closed in November when the piece was finished and put on public display. We ask visitors not to tamper with any art on display.' The Trust is now considering what to do with the artwork. The row over Rowling's name follows the Harry Potter author's increasing involvement in gender-critical causes. Her opposition to the belief that people can self-identify as men or women, and enter sex-based spaces, has led critics to brand her ' transphobic '. She was recently attacked in a new single by the singer Kate Nash. The spoken-word track, titled Germ, levelled accusations of gender-critical views being 'exclusionary, regressive, misogynist '.
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
National Trust cover up tampered artwork in Derbyshire featuring JK Rowling
The National Trust has covered up a piece of art featuring the name of author JK Rowling, after it was tampered with by a member of the April and November 2024 visitors to Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire were invited to stitch names of women they felt should be celebrated on to a textile display called Virtuous this time, a participant stitched over the Harry Potter author's name. Last week, this covering was removed by feminist campaigner Jean National Trust, who manage the property, said: "The artwork was open to contributions for eight months and closed in November when the piece was finished and put on public display." "We ask visitors not to tamper with any art on display," they added."The piece has been taken off display while we investigate the damage caused and consider next steps."Rowling has also been approached for comment. The best-selling author has been criticised for her views on gender identity and for arguing trans women should not be allowed into female-only comments have drawn both support and criticism in recent years on social media and from public of all ages contributed names to the dress, which was created by artist Layla Khoo in association with University of Leeds and National names included Rowling, civil rights activist Rosa Parks, singer Taylor Swift and the term "mum".The artwork was officially put on display in November. Ms Hatchet posted on X that she had removed "hateful stitching" and called on the trust to "apologise to women immediately".In a post on X last month, the Trust said: "Any contributions to the piece have been made by those who chose to take part. "None of the views expressed or actions taken by participants represent the views of the National Trust, the artist or the University of Leeds."
