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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

The Child Who Was Never Born

40 replies

lisa59 · 11/01/2019 02:55

I think the statue is of a mother who aborted her child and the child is saying to her mom that she forgives her for killing her. That's my take on it.

OP posts:
brizzledrizzle · 11/01/2019 06:43

Sorry but I don't agree with your interpretation.

I'm not sure what it the artist's intention was but I find it a very upsetting piece - not because of abortion but other reasons.

Aesthetically, it's an attractive piece but it tugs awfully at my heart strings. I'm not usually emotional about things like that so not sure why.

AuntieStella · 11/01/2019 06:52

If you've had a miscarriage, stillbirth or perinatal death, then I response would be very different.

BertrandRussell · 11/01/2019 06:55

It’s a repulsive bit of pro life propaganda.

RiddleyW · 11/01/2019 07:02

I’d never heard of it and on googling I just saw it as a piece about a miscarriage. Can well believe the artists intent was anti abortion propaganda.

Babieseverywhere · 11/01/2019 07:08

I have seen a photo before and always assumed it was a mother and the child she lost in pregnancy

MermaidUnicorn · 11/01/2019 07:13

I had understood that it was about miscarriage and still births.

Rufusthebewilderedreindeer · 11/01/2019 07:48

I just read that the artist intended it to be about abortion

That may well not be true though

Funkyfunkybeat12 · 11/01/2019 08:38

Are you a pro-lifer or something? Abortion is not murder and a fetus is not a conscious being so there is nothing to ‘forgive’. Why have you started a thread about it and why in feminism?

QuentinWinters · 11/01/2019 08:51

Previous thread about this, very interesting
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/2568810-The-Child-Who-Was-Never-Born?pg=1&order=

RiddleyW · 11/01/2019 08:53

It’s pretty awful as a piece of art either way.

Epiphany52 · 11/01/2019 09:04

This is a quote from the Brother of the Artist :
Marek Hudáček, brother of Martin, says both he and his brother were extremely surprised by the positive reactions from all over the world to the sculpture, “We did not expect it… The main intention of my brother to do the sculpture was not to be famous, but to speak about the important value of human life and the necessity to protect it from conception.”

YetAnotherSpartacus · 11/01/2019 09:10

The necessity to protect it from conception? ??

RiddleyW · 11/01/2019 09:14

I think there’s a missing comma. He means to protect it from the moment of conception.

BertrandRussell · 11/01/2019 09:28

Just noticed it was me started the other thread. I still agree with myself!

MamaDane · 11/01/2019 09:39

I think it's very moving. Whether it's for aborted, stillborn, or miscarried babies. Personally miscarried last July and was supposed to give birth next month.

YetAnotherSpartacus · 11/01/2019 09:44

If it was clear it was for miscarried or stillborn foetuses or for children who have passed away then fine. But NO to any connection with abortion. I loathe forced-birthers with the power of 1000 suns, as they say

LuluMelons · 11/01/2019 09:45

This piece of art really gets to me and I'm very stoic.

BitterAndOnlySlightlyTwisted · 11/01/2019 09:51

"The main intention of my brother to do the sculpture was not to be famous, but to speak about the important value of human life and the necessity to protect it"

I have zero interest in what any man thinks about terminations. They can have a say when they can conceive and birth their own babies. And raise them single-handedly as well for that matter.

GoulashSoup · 11/01/2019 10:25

I am pro choice and don’t like the “forgiveness” point this piece is intended to make.

However, I first saw this piece while in a dark place and going through miscarriages and I found it comforting.

If it is in the eye of the beholder and down to interpretation then then I do like it, but as a political point I don’t.

YetAnotherSpartacus · 11/01/2019 10:28

I am pro choice and don’t like the “forgiveness” point this piece is intended to make

Or the fact that the mother is grieving - it suggests that this is the correct response to a decision to terminate. Left neutral, a woman grieving a lost pregnancy or child, it is fine.

brizzledrizzle · 11/01/2019 10:34

Or the fact that the mother is grieving - it suggests that this is the correct response to a decision to terminate.

I'm also pro-choice. I think it could be said to recognise that some woman do grieve after abortions sometimes rather than suggesting the correct response but I'd be more inclined to think that the artist recognised that if the artist was a woman.

I wonder what our views would be if it were a father and child.

RiddleyW · 11/01/2019 10:48

A father drowning for his aborted child would certainly be thought provoking. I’m sure I wouldn’t like it any better.

RiddleyW · 11/01/2019 10:52

Err I meant mourning. Thanks for your help as ever auto correct.

SpareRibFem · 11/01/2019 11:37

I don't like it as a piece of art, and as someone who has miscarried much wanted babies and is pro choice because I don't believe anyone else has the right to force a woman to go through something as life changing as a pregnancy against her wishes but I do struggle a little with abortions I find the message grotesque and manipulative.

When a man has been in that position they may be able to produce a meaningful piece of art on the subject - I found Frida Kahlo's piece reflecting on her miscarriage gut wrenching. But this is art as moralising on something that could never affect the artist

MynameisJune · 11/01/2019 11:38

It gets to me, but not for anti abortions reasons but because of a miscarriage. I think it’s a beautiful piece of viewed without any context but a shitty message he has attached to it. Abortion isn’t murder and doesn’t require any forgiveness of the women who made the choice.

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