However, just in case you are starting to think that Mr. Gormley is in danger of joining the Legion of the Damned along with the likes of Tracey Eminem and Damien Burst, it must be said that the gnomes are rather stylish.

'Great', I hear you say, 'show us the gnomes'.

Sorry, can't. The photo-police were sharpening their truncheons every time I went near the exhibit. Of course, you could always come and see them yourselves but I don't think they are going to be at the Tate much longer and I have no idea where they normally live.

So, I guess you'll never know.

Here are a piccy of a notice which may give you some small idea of what the gnomes are like and the official explanation of the work.

One point of interest: the explanation says that the gnomes were made by people from St. Helens. Having been to that jewel of the East Lancs Road many a time myself, I strongly suspect that the gnomes are, in fact, the people from St. Helens. Certainly, with the state of economic depression up there most of them would jump at the chance of a job, even if it does involve standing in an art gallery for hours on end.

Finding them all accommodation in St. Ives must have been a problem, though.

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