Naked Male Statue Stirs Jamaican Art Debate

[matcom]

<snip>

KINGSTON, Jamaica (Reuters) - A sculpture meant to celebrate emancipation has sparked heated debate in Jamaica's capital over its frank portrayal of a naked male slave.

Named "Redemption Song" after the song by Jamaican reggae legend Bob Marley, the 11-foot bronze statue was placed at the new Emancipation Park on Aug. 1, when Jamaicans mark the anniversary of the end of slavery in the former British colony in 1838.

The work portrays a man and woman, nude, with hands by their sides and heads lifted in a seeming prayer of thanks to God that slavery has ended.

Some Jamaicans have objected to the nudity, particularly to the male statue, saying its penis is too large.

"There seems to be an interest by the sculptor to present the penis as the main attraction, when in fact there could have been other things highlighted," complained resident Jenny Francis. "There should have been some clothes put on, it's not all about nudity," she said.

The statue was commissioned by the state-run National Housing Trust and created by sculptor Lorna Facey Cooper at a cost of US$800,000.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=573&ncid=573&e=1&u=/nm/20030910/od_nm/bc_life_statue_dc

[thom1102]

1. OH MY!

I may have to take a trip to Jamaica after all.

[Melsky]

2. What, no picture?

how disapointing!

[CBGLuthier]

3. Here is the picture

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20030817T220000-0500_47731_OBS_THE_STATUE_STAYS.asp

He is a rather healthy fellow, but not beyond the realm of possibility.

[mark0rama]

4. No one's complaining about the woman,

who has been given a formidable pair of gravity-defying breasts.

So there, as here, the rules in art are, boobies OK, pee-pee bad!

[WillParkinson]

5. She had boobs?

I'm sorry. I was too busy looking at the guy statue....only for curiousity sake, of course.

[TrogL]

6. I didn't look at the woman either

Must be a gay day.

[thom1102]

7. I am surprised she doesn't have a smile on her face...

I know I would if he were my man!

[Parche]

8. Dont tell

John Ashcrack, he might put a cover over it

[GoddessOfGuinness]

9. Why don't they have legs?

It's a little unclear from the picture...Are they standing to their thighs in water, or is that the bowl of a fountain?

I really don't see anything outlandish about either of them. She's got large breasts; but they don't look like implants. And I can't help thinking that Michaelangelo's David has a more noteworthy penis because of it's modest size.

I imagine it will be really beautiful when complete...