Pictured, from left: Cllr Felicity Hartley, former executive member for culture; Joanna Baxendale, project manager for Commissions East; Cllr Brenda Ferris, deputy leader of Norwich City Council and executive member for culture; Natasha Beckman, acting visual arts officer for Arts Council England East; and Patrick Poirier, who with his wife Anne designed the Homage to Thomas Browne.

A ‘living room’ for people to sit, reflect and watch the world go by has been created in Norwich’s Hay Hill.

A stunning giant brain and eye carved out of marble and 18 other pieces of sculpture by internationally acclaimed French artists Patrick and Anne Poirier have been installed on Hay Hill after months of anticipation.

Each piece is accompanied by a light and at night, they will be illuminated to create a mystical glow in the popular open space.

The unique and thought-provoking public artwork - which was primarily funded by the Arts Council - is intended as a homage to Sir Thomas Browne.

A physician, philosopher, botanist and writer, Sir Thomas lived in nearby Orford Place area and a statue of him was erected in Hay Hill on October 19, 1905, to commemorate the 300th anniversary of his birth.

He is buried in St Peter Mancroft Church where his skull had to be re-interred on July 4, 1922, after his body was accidentally dug up by workmen man years earlier. A replica is on display in the church as well as a portrait and other fascinating artefacts. There is also a display of some of his books and other manuscripts on the 2nd floor of the Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library in the Forum.

The commissioning and installation of such a work in the centre of Norwich represents a major coup for the city.

Although the artists have works on display around the world, including Koblenz and Rouen - both of which are twinned with Norwich - this is their very first commission in the UK.

The sculptures were made by craftsmen in Pietrasanta, Italy, where Michaelangelo used to buy stone for his work.

The project was funded by Arts Council England East, Norwich City Council and Norfolk County Council and commissioned through Commissions East.

Brenda Ferris, executive member for culture for Norwich City Council, said after its installation on Tuesday: “We have been given a gift for the city and now it is the job of all of us to be the advocates of the work and we must encourage the people of Norwich to take it to their hearts, value it and look after it.

“This is a new cultural space for the city and a homage to Thomas Browne, who lived here 400 years ago. It is a living room, to sit, contemplate and eat, and kids will absolutely love it. So much of it is children’s size and will be a real asset and good addition to this historic public space.”

Patrick Poirier said he hoped that people would use the work to sit and relax whatever they thought of it.

“We don’t want to disturb the atmosphere of the place. We hope it will be a place where people will like to be - somewhere for them to stop and maybe have their lunch or perhaps read a book during the day. It is a place for discussion and debate.”

The sculptures are made of marble and granite, some polished and shiny, some rough and matt and are inscribed with quotes from Sir Thomas’s writings.

And although they may appear to be scattered randomly, they are arranged in a pattern known as a ‘quinconce’ or ‘quincunx’ - a five-pointed diamond shape which Sir Thomas wrote about in one of his works, The Garden of Cyrus.

Titles of this and other of his works are engraved on the sculptures to encourage people to find out more about the ideas and writings of Thomas Browne.

For more information about this project click here or contact Marion Catlin, cultural development officer, on 01603 212521