The Peace Monument, Karlstad (23/09/2005)
The Guardian newspaper has published a selection of the "UK's best sculptures of women". Its compiler, Laura Barton, enthuses that the "UK is alive with beautiful sculptures of women" (Barton 2011). Alas, her sweet selection of lovely ladies confirms observations made years ago by the likes of Janet Monk (1992) and Marina Warner (1987). They point out that our streets and squares are swamped with statues of men but hardly any women. Yes, the latter do appear, but almost always as abstract, moralising symbols which, according to Marina Warner, "hardly ever interact with real, individual women" (Warner 1987: 28).
With this in mind, Barton ought to have sought out real women who have distinguished themselves by their beautiful achievements rather than their beautiful breasts. Candidates might include the Emmeline Pankhurst memorial near the Houses of Parliament (Arthur George Walker, 1930). Or how about Mark Quinn's Alison Lapper Pregnant that once graced Trafalgar Square's "Fourth plinth" (Burch 2009)?
One positive outcome of The Guardian's bevy of beauties is the reactions of some online readers. They have used the list to promote statues of "missing" women. A case in point is crittero, who laments the lack of a public monument to Mary Wollstonecraft "'founder' of women's movement". Meanwhile, MissB1983 has provided a link to a very interesting article concerning "Women's erasure from women's memorials" (Dougherty 2011).
_________
References
Barton, Laura (2011) "Female forms", The Guardian, 25/08, accessed 27/08/2011 at,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/aug/25/female-uk-sculptures-women
Burch, Stuart (2009) "Trafalgar Square: a public lecture", 09/08, talk given on Trafalgar Square's
"fourth plinth" as part of Antony Gormley's One & Other (6th July - 14th October 2009). Transcript of talk.
Dougherty, Carolyn (2011) "Women's erasure from women's memorials", 16/06, the f word, accessed 27/08/2011 at,
http://www.thefword.org.uk/features/2011/06/womens_erasure_monuments
Monk, Janice (1992) "Gender in the landscape: expressions of power and meaning",
in Kay Anderson and Fay Gale (eds.), Inventing Places: Studies in Cultural Geography,
Melbourne, Longman Cheshire, 1992, pp. 123-138
Warner, Marina (1987) Monuments and Maidens. The Allegory of the Female Form, London, Pan Books
With this in mind, Barton ought to have sought out real women who have distinguished themselves by their beautiful achievements rather than their beautiful breasts. Candidates might include the Emmeline Pankhurst memorial near the Houses of Parliament (Arthur George Walker, 1930). Or how about Mark Quinn's Alison Lapper Pregnant that once graced Trafalgar Square's "Fourth plinth" (Burch 2009)?
One positive outcome of The Guardian's bevy of beauties is the reactions of some online readers. They have used the list to promote statues of "missing" women. A case in point is crittero, who laments the lack of a public monument to Mary Wollstonecraft "'founder' of women's movement". Meanwhile, MissB1983 has provided a link to a very interesting article concerning "Women's erasure from women's memorials" (Dougherty 2011).
_________
References
Barton, Laura (2011) "Female forms", The Guardian, 25/08, accessed 27/08/2011 at,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/aug/25/female-uk-sculptures-women
Burch, Stuart (2009) "Trafalgar Square: a public lecture", 09/08, talk given on Trafalgar Square's
"fourth plinth" as part of Antony Gormley's One & Other (6th July - 14th October 2009). Transcript of talk.
Dougherty, Carolyn (2011) "Women's erasure from women's memorials", 16/06, the f word, accessed 27/08/2011 at,
http://www.thefword.org.uk/features/2011/06/womens_erasure_monuments
Monk, Janice (1992) "Gender in the landscape: expressions of power and meaning",
in Kay Anderson and Fay Gale (eds.), Inventing Places: Studies in Cultural Geography,
Melbourne, Longman Cheshire, 1992, pp. 123-138
Warner, Marina (1987) Monuments and Maidens. The Allegory of the Female Form, London, Pan Books
