A Conversation with Oscar Wilde, Bronze memorial sculpture near Charing Cross, London, GB
A Conversation with Oscar Wilde is a bronze sculpture set in green granite near St Martin's in the Fields church. The figure sits in a relaxed position holding a cigarette and appears caught in a moment of thoughtful repose.
The sculpture was unveiled in 1998 and grew from an initiative by artists and theatre figures. A selection committee involving Dame Judi Dench and Sir Ian McKellen chose Maggi Hambling's design from twelve submitted proposals.
The inscription comes from Wilde's play Lady Windermere's Fan and reads: 'We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars'. These words shape the feeling of the place and recall his gift for expressing deep truths through wit.
The work functions as a bench where visitors can sit next to the bronze figure. The location between Trafalgar Square and Charing Cross Station makes it easy to reach and ideal for lingering between other sights.
The cigarette held by the bronze figure is regularly removed by visitors and must be replaced frequently. This habit has turned the work into a sort of interactive memorial where ongoing maintenance is part of the artwork itself.
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