As covered by both BBC News and the Henley Standard, a bronze mermaid statue was unveiled on June 6 2013 in the beautiful Henley-on-Thames, on the Red Lion lawn next to the Henley Bridge. map
It is an idyllic spot located in the shade of a tree right on the edge of the river. The statue is part of the Amaryllis Art for Charity project, which has placed similar statues in many locations around the world. See a video of the unveiling here.
These mermaid statues are the creation of Amaryllis, and the plan is to eventually place about 100 of these statues in prominent and beautiful locations near water, with the aims of raising funds for charities and promoting the message of this sculpture.
The project was created by Thomas Noor, using the Ama statue created by Amaryllis.
There are unique touches to each of the statues, such as the patina chosen, the inscription with the name and the coordinates, and the item at at Ama's feet, which often is a flower or a sea animal, or something representative of the location.
As to the message of the sculpture, I asked Amaryllis what the statue represents. In her own words:
She left her underwater world to connect with mankind and alert us that we are damaging her environment. She wants to explain that water is the cradle of life, the ultimate necessity to assure humanity’s own existence. As she arrives on more and more shorelines, it is our belief that she will gain a louder voice and will help make the point that we must respect her home.
It is a great message. It is a message of ocean conservation that is supported and furthered by many people involved with mermaids, whether as art, as a profession or as a city icon.
References:
● https://www.mermaidsofearth.com/amaryllis-bataille-artist-sculptor-mermaid-conservationist/
● https://www.mermaidsofearth.com/mermaid-statues-mermaid-sculptures/public/ama-mermaid-statues/
● The Mermaids of Earth coffee-table book: See page 32 in the book about this sculpture.
