Mary Wollstonecraft memorial statue provokes mixed reaction

[Funky_monks]

I think I made something very similar out of solder in DT when I was at school (I didn't put a tiny naked woman on top though). So close, and yet, so far....

 

[ChrisD]

Lots of more inspiring ( and better dressed) public art here...https://twitter.com/MuttonMusic/status/1326192342517297154?s=19

 

[Artaxerxes]

The amorphous silver Nik Nak really speaks to some I suppose.

 

[Raheem]

The amorphous silver Nik Nak really speaks to some I suppose.

I honestly wasn't even looking at her nik naks.

 

[sleaterkinney]

No just people tired of women being naked in art.

Because it's not what we do that's important, it's what we look like. We must be decorative, even when representing a great thinker.

The more I consider it the more annoyed I am. This is a fucking travesty.

Are public statues of naked women like this common then?

 

[salem]

No just people tired of women being naked in art.

Because it's not what we do that's important, it's what we look like. We must be decorative, even when representing a great thinker.

The more I consider it the more annoyed I am. This is a fucking travesty.

 

[Artaxerxes]

Are public statues of naked women like this common then?

Lets put it like this, do you see many public statues of naked men?

Stroll on down the Mall, how many naked blokes are there? Now how many scantily clad or bare breasted ladies do you see?

Go to the V&A and stroll around the ground floor, how many naked women do you see vs naked men*?


*lots of cupids mind

 

[baldrick]

Are public statues of naked women like this common then?

I can't tell if that's sarcasm.

 

[Edie]

Ah. You see, I know this is controversial but i love Verity.

Bloody hell never seen that before Im not saying it should or shouldn’t be (I genuinely don’t have an opinion) but I’m really surprised that’s there. It’s just

 

[Artaxerxes]

Verity was part of Hirst's plan to gentrify Ilfracombe. It's a branding excercise for him. Public space, particularly in such a beautiful location, shouldn't be spaffed all over by poncy London cunts for private gain.

The fact that its rented to the town for 20 years is a bit...

 

[Edie]

This Woolstonecraft statue looks weirdly out of proportion compared to the Nik Nak. I can’t say whether it’s good or not, I dunno.
(The body on the statue looks like mine, so I guess I have a very generic body).

 

[Cid]

I mean I think we can all agree that, even if some of his art has its merits, Hirst is a titanic bellend.

 

[sleaterkinney]

Lets put it like this, do you see many public statues of naked men?

Stroll on down the Mall, how many naked blokes are there? Now how many scantily clad or bare breasted ladies do you see?

Go to the V&A and stroll around the ground floor, how many naked women do you see vs naked men*?


*lots of cupids mind

It’s a good point, but how many people would stroll around the ground floor of the v&a ?.

My main problem with it is it’s such a beach body figure in the statue, celebrating a feminist figure too, it just muddles whatever message she is trying to get out.

 

[Pickman's model]

It’s a good point, but how many people would stroll around the ground floor of the v&a ?.

My main problem with it is it’s such a beach body figure in the statue, celebrating a feminist figure too, it just muddles whatever message she is trying to get out.

Right, it should have been an ugly figure cos that'd make the point better

Or like pretty much all the public statues of men in london, bar the machine gun corps memorial at Hyde park corner, she could have clothes on

 

[Artaxerxes]

It’s a good point, but how many people would stroll around the ground floor of the v&a ?.

Almost 5 million a year

 

[RubyToogood]

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Lets put it like this, do you see many public statues of naked men?

Stroll on down the Mall, how many naked blokes are there? Now how many scantily clad or bare breasted ladies do you see?

Go to the V&A and stroll around the ground floor, how many naked women do you see vs naked men*?


*lots of cupids mind

Go to the British Museum and you'll see way more naked men.

 

[killer b]

Theres actually shitloads of naked men in the V&A too tbf.

 

[sleaterkinney]

Right, it should have been an ugly figure cos that'd make the point better

Or like pretty much all the public statues of men in london, bar the machine gun corps memorial at Hyde park corner, she could have clothes on

What point is she trying to make?.

 

[Aladdin]

Right, it should have been an ugly figure cos that'd make the point better

Or like pretty much all the public statues of men in london, bar the machine gun corps memorial at Hyde park corner, she could have clothes on

It could have been more of a representation of "feminism". Instead it is a rather "Nazi era-like" fitness fanatic female whose boobs are never going to sag let alone her belly.
Women live beyond 35 you know.
Their bodies change for all sorts of reasons.
The insistance on having to look like that statue is outdated and unacceptable.
The artist/ sculptor is no feminist in my opinion.

 

[Gromit]

I think it’s a fantastic tribute to the Rolls Royce plant in Islington.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Thinking about all the statues I like, and there probably aren't that many, they're pretty much all naked bodies - male and female. Clothed figures don't make for good statues. What is more interesting to explore? The contours of a living human body or the quality of a fabric?

Putting tape over the statue's boobs and bush is a pretty sad response, imo. Let's have more statues of naked bodies, male and female, young and old. Beats the fuck out of most of the tedious shit that normally gets put up.

 

[Gromit]

"This sculpture encourages a visual conversation with the obstacles Ms Wollstonecraft overcame, the ideals she strived for, and what she made happen.

Apparently she made an insey winsey tiny wee ickle feminist happen. Hear her squeak!

Honestly if you wrote a list of every thing feminists would want NOT to represent an every woman you’d have this statue.

Naked - check
Insignificant looking - check made her tiny
Feminist physical appearance cliches - Short hair, big bush - check check (we’ll assume she has armpit hair too)
A procreation reference because yeah breeding babies is all we’re good for - birthing reference - check
Pink - damn knew I forgot something!

 

[BlanketAddict]

I mean I think we can all agree that, even if some of his art has its merits, Hirst is a titanic bellend.

As all good artists should be

 

[weepiper]

No just people tired of women being naked in art.

Because it's not what we do that's important, it's what we look like. We must be decorative, even when representing a great thinker.

The more I consider it the more annoyed I am. This is a fucking travesty.

Which is literally the fucking opposite of what Mary Wollstonecraft wrote about in her book

Wollstonecraft maintains that women are human beings deserving of the same fundamental rights as men, and that treating them as mere ornaments or property for men undercuts the moral foundation of society.

 

[JimW]

Thinking about all the statues I like, and there probably aren't that many, they're pretty much all naked bodies - male and female. Clothed figures don't make for good statues. What is more interesting to explore? The contours of a living human body or the quality of a fabric?

Suppose this is the classic modern one of a clothed figure:

Then you get your classical drapes and whats that famous one with net done in marble?

 

[platinumsage]

Thinking about all the statues I like, and there probably aren't that many, they're pretty much all naked bodies - male and female. Clothed figures don't make for good statues. What is more interesting to explore? The contours of a living human body or the quality of a fabric?

Both?





But I guess that's all old fuddy-duddy stuff and this sculptor does far more advanced and modern works.

 

[Santino]

It's quite the hot take that society actually needs more representations of naked women.

 

[scifisam]

Thinking about all the statues I like, and there probably aren't that many, they're pretty much all naked bodies - male and female. Clothed figures don't make for good statues. What is more interesting to explore? The contours of a living human body or the quality of a fabric?

Putting tape over the statue's boobs and bush is a pretty sad response, imo. Let's have more statues of naked bodies, male and female, young and old. Beats the fuck out of most of the tedious shit that normally gets put up.

Are you playing devil's advocate?

 

[Cid]

Thinking about all the statues I like, and there probably aren't that many, they're pretty much all naked bodies - male and female. Clothed figures don't make for good statues. What is more interesting to explore? The contours of a living human body or the quality of a fabric?

Putting tape over the statue's boobs and bush is a pretty sad response, imo. Let's have more statues of naked bodies, male and female, young and old. Beats the fuck out of most of the tedious shit that normally gets put up.

What a weird take.