Was quite shocked when I enlarged this picture and for a second thought I only had 7% battery.
Mary Wollstonecraft memorial statue provokes mixed reaction
- Thread starter Fozzie Bear
- Start date
Pickman's model
Starry Wisdom
I think it's more her emerging from the mire or whatnot, that she will be mobile. But love it or hate it I can't think of many statues that have received this sort of attention
Denying her the option* of even being able to be clothed or covered up if she wanted to be just seems a bit... bleh. its getting fucking chilly, and I don't usually have anything to motivate me to knit- I forgot how therapeutic it is.
*assuming she could have autonomy over how much anatomy she displays.
*assuming she could have autonomy over how much anatomy she displays.
SheilaNaGig
Break requested
Then why not have her actively emerging, climbing out, pushing against the things that are holding her back. /Rhetorical question.
I think perhaps the reason it’s got so much attention is because it has happened in the context of the discourse following the #metoo movement.
Cid
Proper break this time
The intent, afaik, is that the stuff below is a kind of abstracted expression of feminine forms. The figure emerges from that and is supported by it.
Unfortunately it also does a crap job of showing that, and it's probably a complete post-rationalisation.
Before you even get to the problems with that idea in the first place.
SheilaNaGig
Break requested
Oh yeah, I keep forgetting that the dildo flow beneath her is meant to represent abstract female forms.
When I look can discern those forms. But as you say, that too is inherently, problematic for several reasons. She’s blithely and apparently unknowingly or ignorantly either emerging from, standing upon, being held up by, or being extruded from countless anonymous, almost formless, agentless other women. It enobles neither her nor them.
Wilf
Slouching towards Billingham
Somebody I know was campaigning for the statue so I chipped a few quid in as well. Yeah, it was a bit of a surprise, to say the least. The naked depiction is problematic, at least on the face of it and I can't see any obvious reason for it. But most of all it just looks bad. You can see the logic of the figure at the top emerging from the swirl of female forms, but it just doesn't work visually. It looks even worse if you scroll down to the photo at the bottom of the BBC report where you can see the whole statue. The figure becomes even smaller in scale but, even worse, the faces at the bottom are reminiscent of some kind of souls in hell horror film image. Purely as a statue, a huge mistake.
Mary Wollstonecraft finally honoured with statue after 200 years
‘Mother of feminism’ commemorated by Maggi Hambling sculpture in north Londonwww.theguardian.com
Mary Wollstonecraft statue: 'Mother of feminism' sculpture provokes backlash
The Mary Wollstonecraft memorial draws criticism due to its inclusion of a naked female figure.www.bbc.co.uk
A ten year campaign for "the mother of feminism" to be commemorated on Newington Green has now concluded.
A lot of people seem to have strong feelings about the statue by Maggi Hambling though.
I have to say, having contributed to the fundraiser, that it is not what I was expecting...
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Wilf
Slouching towards Billingham
Strangely enough, when I just posted about the horror look of the faces at the bottom of the statue, Goya came to mind. Not so much the one this is based on, but perhaps this:
Artaxerxes
Look out, he's got a gnu!
She was on the lockdown program has n May and seemed ok, she’s a very specific kind of middle class artist and a bit old fashioned. Very 70s in style I thought.
He had far more entertaining guests though.
Fozzie Bear
Well-Known Member
Plot twist!
www.hackneycitizen.co.uk
Second Mary Wollstonecraft sculpture unveiled in Newington Green
Bust of ‘mother of feminism’ goes on display inside the historic Meeting House she once frequented
www.hackneycitizen.co.uk
blossie33
trailer trash
Plot twist!
Second Mary Wollstonecraft sculpture unveiled in Newington Green
Bust of ‘mother of feminism’ goes on display inside the historic Meeting House she once frequented
Ah....interesting!
Coincidentally, I walked through Newington Green today and went to have a closer look at the statue.
Putting aside everything to do with what it's supposed to represent, I think the reason I'm not keen on it is the bright silver colouring, I'm not that fond of statue sculpture anyway, except for Anthony Gormley's semi abstract type of work.
I'm wondering if I'll like it better when it's aged a bit
TopCat
Putin fanboy
'There are plenty of schlongs in art' – Maggi Hambling defends her nude sculpture of Mary Wollstonecraft
Her tribute to the feminist icon caused outrage at last month’s unveiling, but the artist has no regrets. She hits back at her critics – and explains why this women’s rights pioneer had to be naked
TopCat
Putin fanboy
An interesting read. The assertion that this work has highlighted the work of the subject rings true. The continued use of schlong in Guardian articles rather than penis or genitals in discussion of this work is curious. Bit quaint really..'There are plenty of schlongs in art' – Maggi Hambling defends her nude sculpture of Mary Wollstonecraft
Her tribute to the feminist icon caused outrage at last month’s unveiling, but the artist has no regrets. She hits back at her critics – and explains why this women’s rights pioneer had to be naked
SpookyFrank
A cheap source of teeth for aquarium gravel
'There are plenty of schlongs in art' – Maggi Hambling defends her nude sculpture of Mary Wollstonecraft
Her tribute to the feminist icon caused outrage at last month’s unveiling, but the artist has no regrets. She hits back at her critics – and explains why this women’s rights pioneer had to be naked
I suspect her having no regrets may not be unrelated to her having got paid already.
Pickman's model
Starry Wisdom
The biggest surprises for me have been how po-faced so many people have been about this and how much readier so many posters have been to blame the sculptor than the commissioners
SpookyFrank
A cheap source of teeth for aquarium gravel
"I’m not in control of what I do. The subject speaks through me when I work."
Eugh, pass the sick bucket.
Eugh, pass the sick bucket.
Pickman's model
Starry Wisdom
Lots of artists and indeed authors would say exactly the same thing without attracting this sort of obloquy. But when it's a woman saying this about a sculpture of doubtful popularity I suppose it's ok
SpookyFrank
A cheap source of teeth for aquarium gravel
Legitimate artists put a great deal thought and effort into their work. This idea of the artist as a mere puppet dragged around by destiny and inspiration and absinthe is exactly the kind of shit that justifies the attitude that artists aren't workers and don't need to be paid.
With creativity there is a state of 'flow' which doesn't feel like conscious effort. But that, if you can get there, only gives you 10% of a finished product at best. The rest is hard graft. If it doesn't feel like you've done any work, then you probably haven't. You probably just realised that your existing profile and your sense of entitlement were enough to carry you through regardless of what you actually produced, and then found yourself magically posessed by the ancient spirit known as 'phoning it in'.
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Pickman's model
Starry Wisdom
Let me just stop you after your first word - what do you mean by legitimate? why do you think this woman is not a legitimate artist?
SpookyFrank
A cheap source of teeth for aquarium gravel
Because she says as much herself. She's bragging about not being in control of what she does. I don't actually believe that, but if it's true then she's a fraud and if it's not true she's a different kind of fraud.
Pickman's model
Starry Wisdom
you've missed out your definition of legitimate
SpookyFrank
A cheap source of teeth for aquarium gravel
People who actually fucking try. It's not a high bar I'm setting here.
TopCat
Putin fanboy
Fucking hell.
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