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Statue to honour Wollstonecraft

719 replies

MedusasBadHairDay · 10/11/2020 01:08

www.theguardian.com/books/2020/nov/10/mary-wollstonecraft-finally-honoured-with-statue-after-200-years

It's a naked woman..

Currently reading A Vindication of the Rights of Woman for an OU course, and - unless the tone changes dramatically in the second half of it - I'm not seeing how an idealised nude is the right statue to convey anything about her?

OP posts:
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TinselAngel · 10/11/2020 18:32

As somebody pointed out on Twitter it looks a lot like the end of Terminator 2.

user115632569541 · 10/11/2020 18:28

The choice of imagery and the quote used on the plinth is just reinforcing the misogynistic idea that it's somehow "empowering" for a women to objectify herself for the titillation of men.

How sad too that even death is not enough to protect women from their body being treated like property to be objectified and disrespected.

NeurotrashWarrior · 10/11/2020 18:23

Prestel, that's why I wonder if the people who chose it felt they had to choose a female artist.

And undoubtedly there would have been a comment on it.

Also, I know when you're in the art world (as in, those who spent time thinking and deciding) how easy it is to start to lose yourself so much in the world of concepts and ideas that you lose sight of primary aims.

(Strong memories of an art school seminar where one peer of mine stopped mid analysis and apologised for not having a clue what he was on about. Cue relieved laughter...)

HecatesCats · 10/11/2020 18:15

Good point Prestel

Prestel · 10/11/2020 18:12

Public sculpture is a different kettle of fish to gallery sculpture. The patronage and audience is different.

Yes, exactly.

I'm a bit annoyed that the artist is being pushed out to defend her work when I'm not sure that's the point. What I really want to know is who decided to take money raised for a commemorative statue and spend it on a piece of conceptual art instead. I'd like to understand a little better why this was chosen over the other design, given the other design looks exactly the sort of thing you'd expect if you'd been raising money for a statue to commemorate a famous person and the design they went with doesn't.

I've also tried to find another example of a statue (as opposed to a building, bridge etc) that is dedicated to a famous person without being of them but haven't had any luck. Does anyone know of any precedence of this because I'm finding it rather odd and wonder how people who donated feel about it.

thanksgivingchi · 10/11/2020 18:12

Just why?
I mean really how did anybody think that was a good feminist representation of a female icon.

ArcheryAnnie · 10/11/2020 18:11

@Butterer

I always like sitting next to Alan Turing when I go to Manchester. I would most likely feel differently about doing that if he had his wang out.
Post of the year.
Beamur · 10/11/2020 18:05

Why naked?
It's sensationalism not artistic provocation. Very disappointing.
Women have a tough enough time being taken seriously, so a statue to commemorate a woman of considerable intellectual weight - is a tiny naked woman. Hmm.
Would an equivalent statue be considered for any male person of note? Any? I seriously doubt it.

HecatesCats · 10/11/2020 17:57

Sarah Ditum:

I hope for a partner piece to redeem it. Imagine: a pudenda-esque form supporting a dinky allegorical man with perfect silver cock and balls, to honour Wollstonecraft’s fellow philosopher and husband William Godwin.

unherd.com/thepost/what-did-wollstonecraft-do-to-deserve-this/

Shedbuilder · 10/11/2020 17:53

I wanted to give it an hour or two and see if my initial impression improved on a second viewing because it's Maggi Hambling and she took a kicking over her shells on Aldeborough beach and female artists always get flak. But no. A lump of silvery who-knows-what and out of it a tiny generic naked women with pert bosoms. It's an insult to Mary Wollenstoncraft and I'm terribly sad. At least it's only Newington Green and not somewhere more prominent.

Such flagrant sexism and from a lesbian who's faced sexism in the art world. Makes this woman despair.

ThatIsNotMyUsername · 10/11/2020 17:30

Hang on it’s on north London? Why did I think it was behind parliament on the green by the Thames?

nosswith · 10/11/2020 17:30

Maggie Hambling is an acquired taste to put it mildly. A Victorian woman (or man) would not have been nude in public.

OP YANBU

HecatesCats · 10/11/2020 17:25

@Butterer

It kind of looks like someone melted and twisted up the world cup.
It looks like an accident
Butterer · 10/11/2020 17:24

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justasking111 · 10/11/2020 17:22

Wanted to find a picture that showed it in its setting, honestly Mary is an afterthought. tiny, insignificant pimple plonked on top of what looks like my dogs beef bones after a good chewing.

Statue to honour Wollstonecraft
PamDemic · 10/11/2020 17:20

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Butterer · 10/11/2020 17:20

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Butterer · 10/11/2020 17:19

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ThatIsNotMyUsername · 10/11/2020 17:19

Or Blue Peter with a load of old milk bottle tops and a barbie.

Melroses · 10/11/2020 17:15

Maggie Hambling does have a very deep voice for a woman.

Apparently she has given up smoking.

NeurotrashWarrior · 10/11/2020 17:15

Perfect littledog 😍 !

The other entry for the Wollstonecraft sculpture looks like you could sit next to her too, which is lovely.

Public sculpture is a different kettle of fish to gallery sculpture. The patronage and audience is different.

JulesJules · 10/11/2020 16:57

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This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

DidoLamenting · 10/11/2020 16:57

@WinterIsGone

Didn't catch the name of the man who was talking but he 'explained' that 'clothes define people' and she is 'challenging the world'. I thought that was Maggie Hamblin talking???
Maggie Hambling does have a very deep voice for a woman.
DidoLamenting · 10/11/2020 16:53

@NeurotrashWarrior

Looks like it'll get people interacting with a fashion range for it.

Liking this sculpture though.

That's lovely and I don't even like Virginia Woolf.