|
A
sculpture meant to celebrate emancipation
has sparked heated arguments in Jamaica's
capital Kingston over its explicit portrayal
of a naked male slave.
The 11-foot bronze statue, named "Redemption
Song" after the song by Jamaica's
legendary reggae singer Bob Marley,
was placed at the new Emancipation Park
on Aug. 1, when Jamaicans celebrate
the anniversary of the end of slavery
in the former British colony in 1838.
The work shows a naked man and woman,
hands by their sides and heads lifted
in a prayer of thanks to God that slavery
has ended.
However, some Jamaicans have complained
about the nudity, and objected to the
male statue, saying its penis is too
large.
One resident Jenny Francis claimed:
"There seems to be an interest
by the sculptor to present the penis
as the main attraction, when in fact
there could have been other things highlighted.
"There should have been some clothes
put on, it's not all about nudity,"
she felt.
The US$800,000 statue was commissioned
by the state-run National Housing Trust
and created by sculptor Lorna Facey
Cooper.
It has attracted thousands of viewers
who daily drive past the nude bronze
figures or line up to get a closer look,
take photographs or shoot videos. Many
admire the sculpture.
Defending her work which she says extols
emancipation, Cooper said: "My
piece is not about ropes, chains or
torture. I have gone beyond that. I
want healing," she said.
The statue has sparked off heated arguments
on radio talk shows and among newspaper
columnists and letter writers over whether
it is a celebration of the spirit of
defiance that broght an end to slavery,
or a tasteless affront to the innocence
of young children who visit the park.
Mother of two Adrienne Thomas felt there
was nothing wrong with the statue and
accused fellow Jamaicans of being hypocritical.
"Some of us go almost nude when
Carnival time comes around. We do so
many vulgar things, yet no one says
anything about it. Now we are looking
at a statue and focusing so much on
a penis. It's so sad."
- September 10, 2003
|
