The Binty chicken, a series of graffiti artworks painted by an anonymous artist across Northamptonshire since 2012, has been selected as the 100th and final object for the 'A History of Northamptonshire in 100 Objects' exhibition at Northampton Museum and Art Gallery. The chicken design won more than 50% of the public vote, beating out four other shortlisted items including Northampton Town's 2020 League Two play-off final trophy, a Dr. Martens boot, and the lantern from Northampton's Diwali lights festival.
The artist, who goes by the name Binty and chooses to remain anonymous, expressed her overwhelming surprise at the victory. Speaking about her motivation for creating the chicken artwork, she explained that she wanted to create something different from typical graffiti. "I didn't want to write a word like most graffiti words, I wanted to do something that my children would see and think, 'Oh look, a chicken'," the artist said. She added with humor, "Now my children are sick to death of them, but other people like them, so that's nice."
The artist acknowledged that while some people may not appreciate graffiti, she hopes her chicken paintings bring smiles to people's faces. She described feeling "blown away" by the recognition, stating that it felt particularly meaningful because "it has come from the people of Northampton, the people who see all my work." The artist said she was "not expecting it in the slightest" when she learned her work had won the public vote, calling the honor overwhelming.
Nick Gordon, museum services business manager, explained that the exhibition was designed to heavily involve the community, though the team faced the challenge of being "spoilt for choice" when selecting items to include. Gordon emphasized the exhibition's unique approach, saying, "We say it's our history of Northamptonshire, not the history of Northamptonshire." He highlighted the importance of telling stories that don't typically make it into major history books or grand exhibitions. Gordon praised the Binty chicken selection, describing it as "very emblematic of Northamptonshire."
The exhibition features a comprehensive map that details the origins and connections of each of the 100 objects throughout the county, giving visitors a geographical understanding of Northamptonshire's diverse history. Conservative Alison Eastwood, chair of West Northamptonshire Council, emphasized the importance of understanding local history for residents. "We need to know the history of that which preceded us," she said. "I always feel that history becomes today, and today gives you the bounce for tomorrow. For children and adults, we need to have a substance, and it enriches our lives when we begin to understand the history of a place."
The exhibition opened to the public on Saturday and will continue running until February at the Northampton Museum and Art Gallery. The community-driven selection process and the final choice of the Binty chicken demonstrates the exhibition's success in capturing the authentic voice of local residents and celebrating the diverse cultural expressions that make up Northamptonshire's contemporary history.
