Public, Private Delights

Interesting discussion as part of the online version of the Masterpiece Art fair on the current issues around the removal of statues of controversial figures.

The panel consisted of a journalist, Farah Nayeri; a museum director, Simon Martin of Pallant House: an artist, Zak Over and a director of a private gallery, Polly Bielecka. This interesting mix of people were asked to respond to the incident in Bristol of the toppling of a statue of a slaver trader and suggest what might replace controversial statues. The point was made that statues and sculpture are subtly different things and that sculpture, even if figurative, can open up more of a conversation about an issue than just a figure of a person, as it can emphasis what they represent.

There was some discussion around the cost of replacing work, whether cheaper materials could be used and if temporary exhibits, like the Fourth Plinth might be the right approach. I was interested to hear that the Mayor of London has called for all statues in the capital to be reviewed which could make the landscape of the streets of the city quite different. 


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