Gormley installation at Castle Cornet extended for another year 

Guernsey's ambition to promote the island's cultural identity has received a boost with the agreement that the installation by British sculptor Antony Gormley will remain on the island for a further year.

Gormley, best known for the Angel of the North and now planning his work for the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square brought his unique artistic vision to Guernsey in April 2008 for the HSBC Private Bank Commission. The exhibition, entitled LOT, features five figures on the castle walls reflecting his interest in using the human form to explore man's existence in and relation to the world.

The castle enjoyed a 20 per cent increase in visitors over the summer of 2008 as well as playing host to Gormley himself and other eminent artists and academics during the Art and Islands conference in September.

Guernsey Museums is now planning to create a small interpretation display about the works at Castle Cornet using photographs commissioned by HSBC Private Bank.

Steve Eldridge, Marketing Manager for HSBC Private Bank, said: "During the Art and Islands conference, Lord Remfrew described Guernsey as the ‘birthplace' of sculpture in the British Isles with our Neolithic figure at Castel Church. What better celebration of this aspect of our cultural identity than by connection with one of the foremost international sculptors of our generation. We are grateful for the gracious and ongoing support from Antony Gormley."