I am the KOAN of Warwick - the avatar of a powerful local deity who protects and empowers the students of Warwick University - the only university in mainland UK with its own on-campus deity! My Earthly avatar is a modern art sculpture by Liliane Lijn called "White Koan", which is currently installed outside the main entrance to the Warwick Arts Centre, though recently it had been temporarily mov
ed up to Gibbet Hill. I am intended to represent the Buddhist quest for questions without answers, the Kōan. The sculpture was made in 1971 as part of the Peter Stuyvesant Foundation City Sculpture Project and was originally sited in Plymouth; it then moved to the Hayward Gallery in London before being purchased by Warwick in 1972. Originally, it was intended that I be placed on the plinth at the top of the Arts Centre; however it was discovered that the roof would not bear my weight and so I was instead situated at ground level, where I remained for many years. Recently, after My graduation and acquisition of a 2.2 in Rotational Studies, I went on a sabbatical up to Gibbet Hill, leaving My old place occupied by the Goose Nest theatre. However, I am now back to My rightful place, if you’re planning on coming up to genuflect before Me. I am currently in an on-again-off-again-its-complicated relationship with My girlfriend, the Brno Astronomical Clock. The relationship is complicated somewhat because I’m gender-fluid, being often in My male aspect, but My mother insists I was born female. There is somewhat of an ongoing feud between Myself and the recent upstart, the Warwick Goose. This has grown after he usurped My place with his nest, and was exacerbated by his standing Me up for a date. However, I’m not too bothered, as when it comes down to it, I’m a bit old for him and in any case, he’s too edible to be a real threat. He has also wandered off after graduating, whereas I am more loyal to My followers.
