A controversial art installation on a Bournemouth beach where two young people drowned will remain in place as planned after discussions with the victims’ families, the local council announced. Portal, the 49ft (15m) arch, was criticised by the families of Sunnah Khan, 12, and Joe Abbess, 17, who died on 31 May. The structure was unveiled on Wednesday as part of the Bournemouth Arts By The Sea Festival, with many locals and visitors objecting and calling for its removal. Council Chief Executive Graham Farrant previously described the decision to position the artwork next to the pier as a “crass mistake”.
Vanessa Abbess, Joe’s mother, claimed her family was “shocked and astounded” when they learned about the “disrespectful” installation. “It frames the area of sea where our son, Joe, and Sunnah Khan got into difficulties,” she said. In a joint statement, BCP Council and Bournemouth Arts by the Sea Festival apologised for any upset caused and further distress experienced by the two families. As a mark of respect, the audio and lighting of Portal was switched off on Friday night.
The arch will remain in place until 4 October, in line with its original run time. This decision provoked further outrage, as opponents deemed it insensitive to leave the attraction where it is. While the council took steps to reduce its impact as far as possible, some people expressed their frustration and distaste for the artwork’s presence. However, as part of the agreement with the grieving families, the audio and lighting of the artwork were turned off. In a bid to calm the controversy and mitigate negative reactions, BCP council also announced that work was underway to close down the installation once its festival run is over.
Joe, from Southampton, and Sunnah, from Buckinghamshire, were part of a group of people who experienced difficulty in the sea near Bournemouth Pier. During their inquests, the court heard that there was a suggestion that a rip current may have caused the drowning that led to their deaths. Despite this tragedy, the tourist town is still filled with visitors as the summer season draws to a close but the incident’s question of public safety lingers as residual concern.
Although the artists behind Portal said that their work was not directly related to the deaths of Khan and Abbess, they offered their condolences and have strived to cooperate as far as possible to prevent further distress to the families. The controversy surrounding the artwork has abated somewhat since its original reveal, however, council officials have no doubt that the initial location was ill-sighted. For locals and visitors alike, thoughts now are with the affected families and the loss they’ve suffered
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