The Child Who Was Never Born

[lisa59]

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.

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.

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

It’s a repulsive bit of pro life propaganda.

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.

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

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

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

That may well not be true though

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?

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

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

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.”

The necessity to protect it from conception? ??

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

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

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.

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

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

"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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.