I HAVE been investigating the mystery of a phantom ‘artist’ who appears to be making some kind of statement about rubbish on the Blackdown Hills.A couple of weeks ago, I received a report from Otterford Parish Council that rubbish was being fly-tipped in the bus shelter at Culmhead Crossroads, making it impossible for bus passengers to use the shelter when the weather was poor.
Naturally, I alerted the Deane council’s environmental health team to the problem and asked them to clear it up and also look for evidence of who might be responsible so that we could prosecute and/or recover the cost of the clean-up.
Then, I went to have a look at the bus shelter for myself and, strangely, I found that the rubbish had been cleared and the shelter was lined with silver foil.
A clothes rail had been put up - as you would find in a wardrobe - and a variety of items of clothing hung from it.
There was a sign on the outside reading ‘The Changing Room’, a roadside crossroads sign was stuck on the top of the entrance, and inside was a notice which read something like: “I am a million different people today and the next day...”
I am told since that I have not remembered the quote properly, as it seems to be a line from a song by The Verve which actually reads: “But I’m a million different people from one day to the next...”
The Deane council staff quickly cleared the bus shelter but could find no trace of who had put the clothing there.
I wondered if perhaps it was something to do with Somerset Arts Weeks - now renamed Somerset Art Works (SAW) - as it appeared to be some kind of artistic statement, although a little bizarre out in the middle of nowhere.
However, I spoke to somebody at SAW and they had absolutely no knowledge of it.
At this point, the bus shelter was clean and tidy and fit for use again, so I left it at that.
Then, a few days later, I discovered that the phantom ‘artist’ had returned – and so had the rubbish.
The bus shelter was strewn with black bin bags and carrier bags containing items such as empty cans of lager and cardboard and plastic bottles.
On the outside were posted three signs on white boards reading ‘rubbish….’, ‘art ….’, and ‘rubbish…’.
The signs are in exactly the same style as ‘The Changing Room’ signs, which makes me think that it is the same person.
I do not mind admitting that I am ‘culturally challenged’, and therefore whatever artistic statement they may be making goes over my head.
It is all rather bizarre, and I would like to know why this is happening.
I am sure that whoever the artist is, they were not responsible for the rubbish in the first place and it may be that they actually cleaned it up before embarking on ‘The Changing Room’ project.
To add to the mystery, somebody has also painted in big white letters on the road opposite the bus shelter “SAW No 42”.
I assume again that this is a reference to Somerset Art Weeks, and I was told that No 42 apparently refers to an artist who lives in Watchet.
I will continue to try to get to the bottom of this.
- The photograph above shows me examining the rubbish which has reappeared in the Culmhead Crossroads bus shelter along with signs indicating it is some kind of artistic statement.
