Willow Man

{{short description|Outdoor sculpture in Somerset, England}}

{{distinguish|Wicker man}}

{{Use British English|date=February 2012}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}

{{Infobox artwork

| image_file = The Willow Man - geograph.org.uk - 472863.jpg

| image_size = 250px

| alt = Large statue of a human figure with arms outstretched

| title = Willow Man

| caption = In 2007

| artist = Serena de la Hey

| year = {{start date|2000}}

| type = Willow sculpture woven on a steel frame

| dimensions = {{convert|40|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} tall
{{convert|5|m|ft|order=flip|abbr=on}} span

| city = Bridgwater, Somerset, England

| coordinates = {{coord|51.15046|-2.98120|type:landmark_region:GB-SOM|format=dms|display=inline, title}}

| museum =

}}

Willow Man is a large outdoor sculpture by Serena de la Hey. It is in a field to the west of the M5 motorway, near Bridgwater in Somerset, South West England, near to the Bristol to Exeter railway line and south of junction 23 of the motorway. It stands {{convert|40|ft|m|0}}, with a {{convert|5|m|ft|order=flip|adj=on}} arm span, and is made of black maul willow withies woven over a 3-tonne steel frame.{{cite web | url= http://www.serenadelahey.com/work5.html | publisher= Serena de la Hey | title= Willow Man – 2001 | accessdate=1 January 2012}}

Willow Man was commissioned by South West Arts, for the Year of the Artist, and the Moate family the land owner. The sculpture, which cost {{GBP|15,000|long=no|2000|round=-3|about=yes}}, was unveiled in September 2000.{{cite web | title= 40ft sculpture unveiled in Somerset |publisher=BBC News | date=26 September 2000 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/943715.stm | accessdate=10 June 2007}}

It marks the millennium and celebrates the role of willow in the ecology and craft tradition of the Somerset Levels.

The first sculpture was burnt down in an arson attack on 8 May 2001.{{cite web | title= Willow Man burnt in arson attack |publisher=BBC News | date=8 May 2001 |

url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/1319127.stm |

accessdate=10 June 2007}}

The sculpture was rebuilt by the same artist in October 2001,{{cite web | title= Willow man rises from ashes |publisher=BBC News | date=19 October 2001 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1607295.stm | accessdate=10 June 2007}}

and a {{convert|40|m|ft|order=flip|adj=on}} circular moat was excavated around it as a precaution against further attacks.

A notable landmark, it can be described as a somehow permanent Wicker man sculpture. The sculpture is popularly known as Withy Man, or Angel of the South in reference to Antony Gormley's sculpture Angel of the North. The name Angel of the South is now commonly used also as the unofficial title for a proposed colossal sculpture in Ebbsfleet.

In September 2006, Willow Man received "a £20,000 hair cut".{{cite web | title= Willow man gets £20,000 haircut |publisher=BBC News | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/5314408.stm | date= 4 September 2006 | accessdate=10 June 2007}}

The sculptor Serena de la Hey said that she thought many local birds had been using the material for their nests. When the artist saw her sculpture she was "shocked to see the wear and tear".

In 2018, an appeal to raise funds for the repair of the structure failed to meet its target.{{cite web |title=M5 Willow Man sculpture's future uncertain |work=BBC News |date=9 June 2018 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-44423976 |publisher=BBC |accessdate=10 June 2018}} By 2021, the structure had further deteriorated with the head and arms having lost form.{{cite news | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-57439671 | title = M5 Somerset Willow Man: 'Can't let him fall apart' | date = 13 August 2021 | newspaper = BBC News | access-date = 3 April 2022}}