The meaning behind this unusual Nottingham city centre sculpture

It’s fair to say that we’ve got a few iconic statues and sculptures here in Nottingham. 

Famous Nottingham figures such as Brian Clough and Robin Hood have been immortalised with statues over the years, both of which have become local landmarks in their own right. 

But other statues or sculptures around the city are slightly more enigmatic. 

The Sneinton Dragon, for instance, has raised plenty of eyebrows throughout its 18 years perched beside a busy city road. 

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Another puzzling city centre sculpture is located in Chapel Bar, just up from Old Market Square. 

Smack bang in the centre of the top of the pedestrian cut-through is a large bronze sculpture, depicting four people. 

The sculpture shows two women walking towards Old Market Square, while two men walk away from it. 

Given its prominent city centre location, hundreds, if not thousands of people walk past the sculpture every day; many of whom are unlikely to even register its existence. 

But that element of invisibility chimes with the meaning behind the sculpture. 

Quartet was created by sculptor Richard Perry in 1986 after he was commissioned by Nottinghamshire County Council, in conjunction with East Midlands Arts. 

Unveiled by Princess Anne, the sculpture has been a mainstay in the city centre for almost 40 years.

The life-size group of four, positioned on a plinth, represent the daily passage of people through the city, based upon Perry’s observation of human behaviour. 

The sculpture was originally positioned on the west side of Old Market Square, but had to be relocated to Chapel Bar due to construction of a new tram line. 

Unlike most sculptures, Quartet is not accompanied by any information board or plaque, which only adds to its ambiguity. 

The base of the sculpture simply reads ‘Richard Perry 1986’.