Letter: Sculptural cleansing

Sir: Perhaps Tom Lubbock should contemplate one of Eduardo Paolozzi's sculptures close to the Tate Gallery before he describes them all as "great bronze pile-ups" ("Selling sculpture by the pound", 27 April).

This particular piece by Pimlico tube station actually disguises successfully a mundane function while at the same time utilizing modern mechanical motifs - it is actually a cooling tower.

It should be contrasted with a similarly functional vent close to the Bank of England which is given an Adam-style veneer.

Evidence of such a sculptural lack of nerve is a much more pervasive problem than a few pieces by Paolozzi. Many more unworthy public artists deserve your critics' attention - but then public art is virtually invisible in this country.

Tom Lubbock also states that we never get rid of public sculpture yet the fact is that at least 10 per cent of such work created since 1955 within the City of London has already gone.

This sculptural cleansing is far more disastrous than the existence of a few Paolozzis in London and Edinburgh.

IAN LEITH

Public Monuments and Sculpture Association

Chippenham

Wiltshire