Oxford artist gifts friendship sculpture to Grenoble

An artist has made a sculpture to celebrate the 35th anniversary of twinning between two cities.

Diana Bell's sculpture, called Reaching Out/Mains Ouvert, is a symbol of the friendship between Oxford and Grenoble, France.

It was created ahead of the anniversary of the signing of Entente Cordiale between Britain and France on 8 April 1904.

The art piece depicts two hands reaching out for a handshake.

The Entente Cordiale ended antagonisms between Great Britain and France, paving the way for their diplomatic cooperation against German pressures.

Ms Bell said she had made the sculpture "as a gift from Oxford to Grenoble".

"It symbolises the importance of friendship and understanding," she said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Speaking to BBC Radio Oxford, the artist said the art piece was already in the southern French city.

"The sculpture is two hands is reaching out to one another, just touching, wanting to share hands," she said.

"So it's a very positive symbol."

Ms Bell said that each hand was 1m (3ft) in length and cast in Oxfordshire stone resin.

"There's a wonderful theatre group called DIY Theatre Company who are out there celebrating the Entendre Cordiale," she said.

"They were taking their stuff out, so we just snuck the sculpture in there."

She said she hoped to be able to go and see her art piece on show in Grenoble.

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