Controversial Pigs Wallow in Bath Success

A herd of legendary, colourful, witty wandering pigs is bringing sustainable joy to kids, locals and tourists alike in the city of Bath.

The legend says that Prince Bladud, banished from the court because of his leprosy, was working as a swineherd in the village of Keynsham Somerset. Bladud’s pigs, like most, enjoyed a good wallow in the mud and discovered a great pool of hot mud which appeared to have a wonderful affect on their complexions.

Bladud decided to have a try in the mud pool too. Lo and behold, his leprosy was cured, so the story goes.

Back at court, healthy and well, King Bladud married his sweetheart and decided to found a city, just like the Rome he had studied in. Naturally, he called the city “Bath”, established it around the site where he’d been cured, and all was happy ever after.

A few thousand years later, in 2008, it was decided to honour Bladud’s wandering pigs by establishing a summer public art event designed to involve local businesses in the arts, give local artists a showcase for their work and ideas and provide some fun for both visitors and locals – who would become tourists in their own city.

One hundred individually decorated life-size pig sculptures were to be displayed throughout the summer all around Bath

Controversy loomed, many residents felt that the city’s image could be tarnished. The hilarious plan to bring a herd of painted swine into Bath’s city centre in the name of art caused consternation among council officials. Apparently it was felt by some that the pigs would be “inappropriate” and “damaging to the city’s character”. “Pigswill and Hogwash” said the locals, and the event took place.

(Over £20,000 had already been raised in sponsorship fees, which will have to be returned if the conservative elements of the council had their way.)

So the event is taking place. Each pig is sponsored. Each sponsor selected an artist to transform the blank “3D canvas” of a pig sculpture, made of reinforced fibreglass, into a work of art.

In October the pigs will be sold via a grand auction. Net revenues after costs from the event will be donated to the sustainable transportation charity Sustrans for use specifically to help deliver the Bath Two Tunnels Project (see www.twotunnels.org.uk).

The pigs are now all over the city, each an individual, wittily decorated and placed in an interesting location. You can see pigs snuffling in the middle of grand squares, winged pigs trying to fly from roofs, guard pigs outside retail premises, even the fashionably-dressed, fishnet-tighted “Pig in Prada”.

The names take pig-puns to the absolute limit – from “Abi” (outside Bath Abbey), through “Cowpig” (a pig painted like a cow), “Hambag” and “Hogwarts Express” to “Ziggypiggy” – the names and the designs have to be seen to be believed.

The pig project has been an outstanding success, all over Bath, rain and shine, small children make friends with pigs and often climb on to have a ride. Their parents are entranced by this innovative enterprise.

Maps, colouring books and posters have now been produced and are being sold at reasonable prices by pig project workers and supporters. There’s even a “Pig Rescue Centre” to repair damaged pigs.

The result – tourists walking around the city, lots of money being raised for a sustainability charity, a graphic representation of Bath’s history and culture, stimulation of local art business, the involvement of at least a hundred stakeholder groups and many, many happy children and parents.

But all good things come to an end. There will be a Farewell Pigs Event on the weekend of 18th/19th October at Bath’s Queen Square where all 100 pigs will be on display.

The grand live auction is on 31st October. Bids are also being taken on the website.

Further information

KingBladudsPigs.org