What is a statue? A big piece of metal that a lot of people see. So why is a statue such a big deal? To me, there are 2 main reasons, both associated with the very fact that these are public works of art. 1, a statue is an enduring symbol of honor and representation. And 2, statues, as a tourist destination, are opportunities for education and conversation with history.
When we decide to build a statue, we have to choose what we'll be honoring and putting forth as an enduring monument. When a statue is built, it conveys "This is what you should see. This is the face of our history." Thus, when building a statue, we need to be careful. Are we perpetuating the status quo, enforcing old narratives, and keeping certain voices silenced? Are we using the opportunity to look back and honor those who deserve to be honored most, or creating another statue in a long line of colonizers? When people look upon the statues we erect in our public spaces, whose faces do they see? What do they read on the plaque? Statues should reflect the historical people of the place they're located. In a place like LA, paying tribute to Mexican migrant workers not only reflects the historical contributions of Mexican migrants in the city of stars, but also the large presence of underpaid migrant Latinx workers who are struggling to maintain their human rights in the Los Angeles of today. Kehinde Wiley's Rumors of War flips the concept of the statue on it's head, mashing up history with the present day in the pursuit of critiquing history and honoring the present struggle of black Americans. By replacing the typical expected white general with a modern visage, Wiley comments on current controversies over confederate statues in the south, and interjects his community back into the history that has been stolen from them.
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