A BRIGHT pen five metres in height has been revealed outside a University of Oxford building.

The magenta fountain pen, which is made of steel, is now on display at the Blavatnik School of Government, situated opposite the Oxford University Press building in Walton Street.

The artist behind the installation, Michael Craig-Martin, and officials from the school were tight-lipped on its cost.

When the Blavatnik School was approved in 2013, one of the conditions was that it would commission a piece of public art in the future.

The pen has been ready for the last six months but due to the pandemic, installation could only take place earlier this month, prior to its unveiling on Thursday.

Oxford Mail: Artist Michael Craig-Martin next to the giant pen. Picture: Marc WestArtist Michael Craig-Martin next to the giant pen. Picture: Marc West

Sir Michael said: “It’s been a long time coming – it’s the first sculpture of this kind that I’ve done that has ever gone into a permanent public position.

“When I first visited the school, I was very struck by its location across the street from the university press but also that we’re essentially on the border of the university and the town.

“It’s a residential neighbourhood, Jericho has a very particular character.

“The fountain pen has a meaning and a reference to the work of the university, but also anybody who’s here – for small children at the primary school nearby, I’m hoping the kids will like it and I think they’ll understand immediately when they see it.

“One of the things that happens here is that people learn to become part of the governing class of the countries they come from and the signing of documents is massively important and important documents are done with a fountain pen even today.”

Oxford Mail: Michael Craig-Martin next to the giant pen installation outside the Blavatnik School of Government. Picture: Marc WestMichael Craig-Martin next to the giant pen installation outside the Blavatnik School of Government. Picture: Marc West

The piece attracted a mixed response when it went through the planning process, with it being described as ‘vulnerable to misuse and vandalism’ by one respondent.

“People are not obliged to like things, they can like things or not, it’s a free choice,” said Sir Michael.

“What I’m pleased about is that an image of an object which is familiar to everyone could not be more inclusive – nobody needs to feel excluded from this work.

“There’s no mystery, it states what it is very straightforwardly.

“That’s why I think it then allows every individual viewer’s imagination to spin with it.”

Dan Snape, director of finance and resources at the Blavatnik School, project managed the piece.

He said funding for the installation came from both the university’s art fund and the Blavatnik Family Foundation.

“It’s very much been done as a public piece of art and was commissioned accordingly,” said Mr Snape.

“We debated the colours a bit but he works in bright colours, and if it was a dull colour, it would not stand out.”