Monday, August 27, 2007

MLK


photo from the Taipei Times website...


There's news afoot in the public sculpture world about the latest memorial addition to Washington DC's Mall. The honoree is Martin Luther King, Jr. But he's not the source of protest. Everyone pretty much agrees that he's significant enough to be included in the Pantheon. The problem is with the choice of sculptors.

The granite piece is going to be crafted by a Chinese artist by the name of Lei Yixin. He's a "National Treasure" of China- which means that he's so skilled that his nation recognizes him as an asset to be honored. The guy didn't even apply for the commission. He was attending a stone cutting workshop in MN when members of the commission found him and they were so impressed that they ended up offering him the job. He hesitated, but finally accepted.

The buzz began, and earnest members of the public were incensed, especially the sculpting community.

"The sculptor of such an important American hero has to be an American," some cried.

"The sculptor of such an important African-American hero has to be African-American," others responded.

Spare me. I know that some people will be terminally incensed if I point out that MLK didn't confine himself to only African American thinkers when he developed his philosophy and techniques. I believe Gandhi, his inspiration, was from Asia. No one pointed out that satyagraha could only be practiced by those of the great sub-continent. And I don't remember reading that he said "blacks only need apply to create a just American society". I am appalled at the insularity, ignorance and narrow-mindedness of the protesters. Talk about racial prejudice! MLK would be proud of you, guys...

The bewildered Chinese sculptor is reported to have said, "He [MLK] has always dreamed that people from all over the world will not be judged by the color of their skin — that we would all be brothers and sisters and enjoy equal opportunity. Now I have the luck to get this opportunity."

There are, of course, the rumors that the commission did this only so they could wheedle $25 mil toward the monument from Chinese investors if they employed one of their own for the piece. If this is true, why not open the bidding to a Saudi sculptor? $25 mil would be spittin' dough to them...

2 comments:

  1. Right on!! the first intelligent thing I've read about this so-called controversy. Keep up the good work.

    ReplyDelete
  2. but.. what would MLK think of the civil rights issues that surround China? Will slave labor be used to quarry the stone?

    What's also at stake here is the implication that there are no stone sculptors in the US qualified to do this piece.

    And just the general fact that much of the manufacturing in the US has vanished to countries that have little or no laws regarding environmental protection, wages, worker safety, etc. These are things artists should care about, but unfortunately lots of artists are sending their work to China to be mass produced.

    ReplyDelete

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