Look at the monuments that are sited across cities and towns, and you will see that the vast majority depict white men, from a certain class and historical standing. Very few black people are represented and rarely women.
Edward Colston, the slave trader, towered over the people of Bristol for years, rubbing salt in to wounds daily and despite continuous lobbying to remove him, the local authority chose not to respond. The public therefore removed it and from this, debates have raged about these monuments and the symbolism of them.Â
This also provides us with a great opportunity to challenge the commissioning choices and instead of depicting white historical men on plinths, we should reflect today’s Britain and its amazing citizens. An example of this, is provided in Sweden where the monument ‘A Woman Hitting a Neo Nazi with a Handbag’, depicts a 38 year old woman who stood up to the Nazis . To have this monument, puts the spotlight on her laudable actions and creates a way in for people to discuss these atrocities. The difference being that this woman is a celebration of the hero, not the villain.Â
We all need to start changing the rhetoric of what monuments are commissioned for and why. For my own part in changing the dialogue, we have just commissioned a sculpture depicting Mary Anning. Artist Greta Berlin, has put her in an active pose, hammer in hand. Cannot wait to launch it and it will be good to contribute to further discussion about how we can change the conversation.Â
Here we see the depiction of the woman who hit the Neo Nazi and became a local hero (see inset). Â
Why should we have to look at these exploitative murderers? Why are they revered? Why is it a point of reference in the UK? What does it say about us as a nation in the 21st century that many seek to protect the ugly personality?
WE need to look deeper and we need to do it now.
Cleo Evans
