UK Monument Controversy

Hello SOTAns! This week, we discuss the public art work statue A Surge of Power (Jen Reid) by Marc Quinn and collaborator/subject, Jen Reid. This piece was erected by the artist in place of a toppled monument that depicted a slave trader in Bristol, UK. Although the sculpture was quickly removed by the city, controversy around this piece still lingers. Did Quinn (a white male artist) exploit Reid's likeness (a woman of color)? Was their collaboration genuine? Did the artist take away an opportunity for a BIPOC artist? Tune in for our recap of the story and discussion. We would love to hear your thoughts! References: Slave trader’s portrait removed from Bristol lord mayor’s office A Surge of Power (Jen Reid) 2020 Black Lives Matter Monument Replaces Statue Of Slave Trader In England A joint statement from Marc Quinn and Jen Reid Edward Colston's statue stood for 125 years. The Black Lives Matter statue that replaced it stood for about 25 hours Black Lives Matter sculpture of Jen Reid removed from Colston plinth Removing the statue of Black Lives Matter activist Jen Reid was a mistake Who is Jen Reid? The Black Lives Matter activist whose statue replaced Edward Colston’s in Bristol, before it was taken down Windrush memorial artist: ‘Marc Quinn’s Jen Reid statue colonised the Colston plinth and hijacked the BLM movement. It’s a con’ Decolonising Art History: Statue of Black Lives Matter Protestor Jen Reid removed Jen Reid statue removal 'to be paid for by artist' 'Hope flows through this statue': Marc Quinn on replacing Colston with Jen Reid, a Black Lives Matter protester Marc Quinn: 'Our Blood came from a sense of outrage' | British GQ Britons toppled an enslaver’s statue. A guerrilla artist replaced it with a Black Lives Matter protester. All Nature Flows Through Us: A Conversation with Marc Quinn Marc Quinn’s Bristol statue is a vainglorious stunt Marc Quinn on Contemporary Art