Sculpture Symbolism

On June 7^th a statue of Edward Colston (1636-1721) a merchant and slave trader was toppled from its plinth by Black Lives Matter protesters and dumped in Bristol Harbour. 

On  July 15^th a statue depicting one of the protesters was, without permission, put in its place. It was subsequently removed by the authorities.

To bring attention to a cause by way of Civil Disobedience is not easy, as those of us who have taken this route well know. Very often it is left to an individual to draw attention to an injustice. It cannot be done in disguise or under the protection of a pseudonym.  Most prefer the safer option of patiently waiting for change. But if Rosa Parks had patiently waited, public transport in Montgomery might still be segregated.

The Bristol episode has not only served to bring home the message of the protesters, but also to illustrate that art in general, and public sculpture in particular, has a role to play in social commentary.  A work of art may be perceived as controversial, but therein lies its significance. 

The techniques and materials used by Marc Quinn are far removed from those handed down by sculptors through the centuries. However, to make the statement in record time I accept that it was the only way possible. I give credit the artist and Jen Reid, his model, for seizing the opportunity. As Marc Quinn stated, the computer generated black resin statue was meant to be a temporary installation. Its purpose was to continue the conversation about racism.

In terms of that conversation, it comes as a surprise that Thomas Price, a black British sculptor, who has recently been commissioned to create a sculpture dedicated the Windrush Generation, has accused Marc Quinn of creating a “votive statue to appropriation”.  He goes on to state: “I think it would be far more useful if white artists confronted whiteness as opposed to using the lack of black representation in art to find relevance for themselves.”

From that perspective it might be argued that 130 years ago Paul Gauguin should have stayed in France and not sailed to Tahiti and that 55 years ago I should have stayed in my native West Riding of Yorkshire and not sailed to the Caribbean.