National Trust withdraws artwork with JK Rowling’s name on it after it was ‘tampered with’
A piece of artwork that featured JK Rowling’s name at a National Trust property has been removed after the Harry Potter author’s name was “tampered with.”
Hardwick Hall in Doe Lea, Derbyshire featured a textile display, with visitors invited to nominate a “contemporary virtuous woman.”
The artwork, named “A Virtuous Woman”, has been on display since February this year, reports The Times.
However, Rowling’s name had been stitched over with light pink, white and light blue threads, the colours of the trans flag.
Feminist campaigner Jean Hatchet said she had “corrected” the display by removing the stitching over Rowling’s name.
A spokesman for the National Trust said: “The artwork was open to contributions for eight months and closed in November when the piece was finished and put on public display.
“During the participation phase, JK Rowling’s name was stitched onto the piece seven times and in two instances it was stitched over by other participants.
“At the time the artwork was completed and subsequently hung, JK Rowling’s name appeared five times without any overstitching.”
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However, Hatchet claimed she did not damage the piece, adding that the stitching over Rowling’s name was “hateful.”
She told The Times: “So there was no issue for the National Trust that someone ‘tampered’ with the embroidering of a woman’s name.
“By contrast a woman, me, very carefully removing that hateful stitching with the correct tool and taking great time and care as can be seen, is guilty of something they want to cover up.”
The National Trust added the project involved a “collaborative piece of art formed of participants’ views from a variety of age groups, life experiences and beliefs.”
Rowling has been a vocal supporter of biological women’s rights and same-sex spaces, a move which some have labelled as “transphobic.”
Reacting to the Supreme Court ruling over what defines a “woman” in law, she paid particular tribute to the campaigners at For Women Scotland who were pivotal in pushing the courts to make a decision on the definition of a woman.
The 59-year-old said: “It took three extraordinary, tenacious Scottish women with an army behind them to get this case heard by the Supreme Court and, in winning, they’ve protected the rights of women and girls across the UK.”