Revealed: The 'Real Bimingham Family'
A life-size bronze sculpture of a Birmingham family has been unveiled outside of the city's landmark library.
The £150,000 artwork in Centenary Square, outside the new Library of Birmingham, was created by Turner Prize-winning artist Gillian Wearing, who attended Dartmouth High School in Great Barr.
The A Real Birmingham Family shows the Jones', who were picked from 372 families to become the face of the city.
They are single parent sisters Roma and Emma and their sons Kyan, Shaye and Issac.
They were chosen following a debate between panel members over what constitutes a Birmingham family.
Ms Wearing, who now lives in London, had already taken part in a similar project in Italy six years ago.
She was awarded the Turner Prize in 1997 and elected as a lifetime member of the Royal Academy of Arts, London in 2007.
She was awarded the OBE in 2011.
She said: "I really liked how Roma and Emma Jones spoke of their closeness as sisters and how they supported each other, it seemed a very strong bond, one of friendship and family, and the sculpture puts across that connectedness between them.
"A nuclear family is one reality but it is one of many and this work celebrates the idea that what constitutes a family should not be fixed."
Stuart Tulloch, curator at Ikon, said: "The variety of nominations to A Real Birmingham Family has shown to us that whilst the traditional, nuclear family may no longer be the norm, the ties that bind us together are as strong as ever.
"The sculpture will draw attention to the everyday and the unsung, a lasting memorial to the people of Birmingham who are the life-blood of our city.
Councillor Ian Ward, deputy leader of Birmingham City Council, said: "The A Real Birmingham Family sculpture reflects the many ways in which people live their family lives in the city today.
"I hope it will provoke discussion and challenge preconceptions, which is such an important function of public art."
Ikon is a registered charity and is supported using public funding from Arts Council England and Birmingham City Council.
The A Real Birmingham Family was funded by Birmingham City Council, Arts Council England and Ikon's Friends of the Family.
