A massive monument of General Robert E Lee that once sparked riots in the Virginia city of Charlottesville is now a pile of melted-down bronze, artfully displayed in a Los Angeles museum. Next to the sculpture are barrels of toxic slag leftover from the melting process. Around the corner, there is a massive, graffitied equestrian statue of Lee and Thomas Stonewall Jackson – the two most famous Confederate generals in the US Civil War, which the Confederacy lost in 1865 and ultimately led to the end of slavery in the United States. They fought for slavery, says curator Hamza Walker, who has been working for eight years to acquire and borrow the massive monuments amid lawsuits and the logistical challenges of moving tens of thousands of pounds of bronze and granite to Los Angeles. Coming at a time when President Donald Trump is ordering statues and paintings of Confederate generals to be reinstalled, the warring narratives of American history are at the heart of Monuments, which opens 23 October at The Brick and at the Geffen Contemporary at the Museum of Contemporary Art. The 18 decommissioned Confederate monuments are displayed alongside pieces of contemporary art. Most of the monuments on display will be returned to the cities and towns they've been borrowed from when the show closes in May. The centerpiece of the show is Unmanned Drone – a completely reconstructed sculpture of Stonewall Jackson by artist Kara Walker, who transformed the horse and its rider heading into battle into a headless, zombie-like creature. It's a toxic representation of history, this lost cause narrative, and we're purifying it, says artist Jalane Schmidt. The exhibit is poised to spark important discussions on race, identity, and how history is remembered.
From Controversy to Art: The Transformation of Confederate Statues
From Controversy to Art: The Transformation of Confederate Statues
Once symbols of division, Confederate statues are now transformed into art pieces, challenging their historical narratives and sparking conversations about race and identity in America.
A significant monument of General Robert E. Lee, once at the center of protests in Charlottesville, has been melted down and reimagined as contemporary art in Los Angeles. This transformation reflects a cultural shift, questioning the glorification of historical figures who fought for slavery. The exhibit, opening October 23rd, juxtaposes these reimagined monuments with modern art to provoke discussion about America's complex racial history.
