"The Child Who Was Never Born"

[BertrandRussell]

People are sharing this picture on my Facebook- AIBU to be angry and want to say something? Just want to make sure I'm not over reacting.

[Thurlow]

What's the story behind it? Is it to do with miscarriage, stillbirth or abortion?

[FaFoutis]

It is about abortion.

[stumblymonkey]

It's a sculpture that was created to recognise children lost through miscarriage and still birth.

I will find a link to confirm...

[Fourormore]

What is it about it that makes you angry, Bertrand?

[stumblymonkey]

Actually it seems it's a tribute to all unborn children whether through miscarriage or abortion.

It's not, as far as I understand, meant to be any kind of judgment on the woman.

Personally I know people who have had miscarriages that find this sculpture very moving. I've had two abortions and find it a very peaceful and moving sculpture.

Your feelings about it are personal....but I think it's unreasonable to be 'angry' - why are you angry?

evenifministries.wordpress.com/2012/09/16/410/

[Fourormore]

www.lifesitenews.com/news/heart-rending-young-slovakian-sculptor-captures-post-abortion-pain-mercy-an

This link says it's to show post abortion trauma and forgiveness.

[JassyRadlett]

Ugh.

The idea that abortion requires 'forgiveness'. Appalling.

[Fourormore]

Did you read the whole article?
It isn't about forgiveness in the judgmental sense - in fact I read it as the opposite, that the woman is judging herself and the message behind the sculpture is to relieve that. And if the woman doesn't experience post abortion trauma then the forgiveness part probably doesn't exist.

[Helmetbymidnight]

Well, its a sculpture offering a philosophical outlook that probably won't resonate with people who aren't religious.

I think it would have been much better if he'd left out the child altogether! The grieving woman alone is wonderful. And I'd recommend he change the title too. I find it sentimental/twee but that's what people like.

[Grimarse]

Who gives a shit whether you are over-reacting or not? You are an adult, you do not need anyone's permission to express your thoughts. Go on, let rip.

What I would suggest is to tweak the settings on your FB account so that those who express overly-sentimental pieces of twaddle are ignored.

[JassyRadlett]

I did read the article, thanks, including the purpose of the artist, and the quotes about 'the child lost to abortion' and 'repentance' and 'forgiveness by the child'.

I stand by my opinion.

[Thurlow]

I think if someone feels guilt or is still traumatised by an abortion then this is may be a very moving sculpture.

I do dislike the implication that guilt, trauma, forgiveness etc are a part of all abortions.

[stumblymonkey]

I've had two abortions...one which upset me a lot at the time, one which didn't upset me at all.


I don't feel guilty or traumatised about either but I still don't find the sculpture offensive or upsetting. I find it peaceful.

Each to their own though.

[Noneedforasitter]

It feels like an unpleasant political statement in the context of abortion, and a serene work of art in the context of miscarriage. It's hard to know what to think without context.

[Owllady]

I think it's dreadful

[JeanneDeMontbaston]

I wrote about this a while ago. Putting a link in case anyone's interested. readingmedievalbooks.wordpress.com/2015/06/13/deconstructing-the-visuals-of-martin-hudaceks-anti-abortion-memorial/

I think (as I said in the link) that it's a really manipulative piece, because it's using all sorts of visual vocabulary based in Christian art, which a lot of us will have seen and internalised, but may not consciously recognise. I dislike the implications of it.

[TannhauserGate]

I wonder how many miscarriages, still births or abortions Martin has had.

[KittyandTeal]

It's recognising those children who were never born alive and lost (not anti abortion)

I have always found it very moving and lovely that someone has managed to symbolise that my dd2 will never be seen by others but that she is always with me (in a non religious way)

I'm not sure what there is to be angry about, unless the pro life brigade have started trying to use it.

[KittyandTeal]

Well that's ruined it for me.

I'd always assumed it was for lost children not a judgy abortion comment.

I still like to think of it as describing how I feel about my dd2 though.

(Teaches me to rtft before commenting!)

[VashtaNerada]

Interesting, I'd always assumed it to be about miscarriage or infertility. Hadn't realised the abortion connotations. Gone off it a bit now!

[UmbongoUnchained]

I have a little ornament quite similar to this that my friend got for me after I miscarried my son. I think it's beautiful and represents exactly how I feel. That my son will always be with me even if he isn't here physically.

[BertrandRussell]

I understand how people can take comfort from it. But I am a member of the "miscarriage club" too, and all it said to me was a woman begging forgiveness for having an abortion. I hadn't looked it up before I posted, and I am depressed to discover that I was right.

I feel very uncomfortable now that I may have been instrumental in spoiling something that had meaning for people,and I'm sorry. But sadly, it is what it is.