‘Statue of Lado Gudiashvili’, 2006 (video still)
STATUE
Preliminary thoughts for the placement of a “Nikala” heater on the Freedom Square and thoughts subsequently to the accidental event of the gipsy kids climbing the statue of Lado Gudiashvili.
Tbilisi – Georgia
The Freedom Square was formerly – before the elections – named the ‘Lenin Square’. After the election of president Saakashvilli, the Lenin statue was pulled down by the people in the presence of president George Bush jr. (USA). It was clear for the people and the government that the renamed square needs a new monument that symbolizes the transition towards democracy. A Tbilisi based millionaire and sculptor decided to make and finance a monument for the freedom square as a gift to the city. It concerns a very high pillar with a baroque sculpture on top.
The Art world in Georgia was generally shocked by the idea of this sculpture and the fact that this sculpture is a gift to the city without any counselling within the field. No democratic process was involved towards this decision. Moreover, the people of Georgia are also not pleased with the design of the sculpture which doesn’t symbolizes a progressive view on the future. On the contrary, the design is regarded as regressive. At the other hand, bigger and more basic problems arise and the people are not so concerned anymore with this ‘problem’. So, the Art world is stuck with the ‘problem’.
Monuments are in essence signs in the city that reflect and helps us remember a point in history. The main question is if this point in history – reality today – is well reflected in this design for a monument. Do we want to remember ‘today’ through this monument? It seems to me that the Gipsy kids who live on the streets of Tbilisi would know exactly how to respond.
Another monument close by the parliament is regarded conciliatory for all Georgians. It regards the statue of Lado Gudiashvili (1896 – 1980), a prominent Georgian painter who is a genuine national hero. The Gipsy kids were asked by me to group in the park close by the statue for a photo-shoot. As they could choose how to be photographed, they immediately climbed up the staue and covered it with their colorful clothing and laughter. They did not realize that the Georgians have high regards towards this statue. Soon, a group of Georgians passing by protested this temporary act, saying that this Georgian statue cannot be infected by Gipsies. The gipsies are regarded as imigrants while they want to be Georgian at any prize. This performance is a short moment that can be seen as a polemic use of the symbols in the city. The statue acts here as a symbolic mediator for discussion between the Gipsies and the Georgians.
‘We are all part of a loud minority’, 2006 (video beam)
‘We are all part of a loud minority’, 2006 (video still)
‘We are all part of a loud minority’, 2006 (video still)
‘We are all part of a loud minority’, 2006 (video still)