A statue of a Black Lives Matter protester has been removed from Edward Colston's plinth just 24 hours after it was first installed.
The 18th century slave trader's statue was replaced by the figure of activist Jen Reid in the early hours of yesterday morning (Wednesday, July 15) by a small team led by British sculptor Marc Quinn.
The installation of the new sculpture, called 'A Surge of Power', was not done with the permission of Bristol City Council, which is yet to announce its plans for the empty plinth.
Despite a show of support for the statue from many across the country, Mayor Marvin Rees said yesterday the future of the plinth must be decided on by the people of Bristol.
Now the new sculpture has been removed by workers who were at the scene shortly after 5am this morning (Thursday, July 16).
The black resin and steel statue was hoisted with ropes, lifted by a grab arm and placed into a skip lorry.
The council have said it will be held at their museum for the artist to collect or donate to their collection.
In an interview with Bristol Live yesterday, both the artist and subject of the sculpture said it was never created to be a permanent replacement.
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They said the artwork's aim of continuing the conversation about the Black Lives Matter movement shouldn't have clashed with the council's desire to decide on the future of the plinth through a democratic process.
"We didn't approach Marvin Rees or the council because it was about making an artwork which appears overnight and having a conversation," Marc Quinn said.
"This statue is only going to be there for a little bit - there should be a democratic process. I was never suggesting it should be permanent.
"I have no idea what happens next. When you do something like this, you have no control over what happens."
"It was never intended to be a permanent thing," Jen Reid added. "Marvin and his people need to do what they need to do for the people of Bristol."
