A STATUE of John Lennon which wowed the crowds at the 2019 Glastonbury Festival is looking for a new home.

The life-size sculpture, created by Laura Lian, is currently on display at Liverpool’s St George’s Hall.

Due to be displayed until the end of August, the exhibition has been extended until the end of September, but the future for the 180cm-high bronze - shows Lennon leaning on the CND sign with the word ‘Imagine’ on the side - is then uncertain.

It was due to be relocated to the Strawberry Fields, but a change if plan means its future home is uncertain.

“When I heard the news, I decided to take a chance and keep working on it as the clay was almost finished and then to self-fund it," said Laura.

“I’m now thinking of putting the statue up for auction, so it’s anyone’s guess to where it may end up.

"Ideally I would like it in beautiful public gardens setting, either in Liverpool or London, where it will continue to be accessible for everyone.”

Inspiration for the project came from John and Yoko’s 1960’s peace mission, with Lian’s intention being to spread their peace message among a new generation.

December 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the Lennons’ ‘War Is Over’ campaign, which targeted 11 major cities across the world with massive billboard posters, as well as ads in newspapers and on the radio, saying: ‘War is over! If you want it. Happy Christmas, from John and Yoko.’

Somerset County Gazette:

ICON: Festival goers posed with the statue at the Glastonbury Festival

A graduate of the Chelsea School of Art, Laura Lian’s work is internationally sought after by corporate, public and private collectors and has sold in the primary market at Christie’s.

Her portfolio includes sculptures of contemporary icons such as David Bowie, Ella Fitzgerald, the band U2, (signed by the members), The Band, The Eagles, the Queen Mother and Tony Benn. Collectors of her work include Bernie Ecclestone, Sharon Osbourne and Bill Wyman,

Prominent supporters of the John Lennon Peace Statue include Kate Hudson, General Secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), who described it as “a beautiful piece of art that will help us in our campaign to promote a more peaceful world”.

And Lennon’s sister, Julia Baird, said: “Unlike other statues, this creation puts to the forefront John’s strong fight and never-ending desire for peace in the world.

"This is a concept that is needed just as much if not more today as when John was alive.”

Further details about the John Lennon Peace Statue are available at www.lauralian.co.uk or call her on 07989 880149.

There is also a crowdfunding page for the project at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/johnlennonpeacestatuetravels

Would you like to see the statue return to Somerset? Could it find a home in the fields of Worthy Farm, or should it go elsewhere?