Egyptian sculpture honouring military 'depicts sexual harassment'
An artist commissioned to create a statue commemorating Egypt's fallen soldiers has been told to go back to the drawing board after complaints the sculpture portrayed sexual harassment.
2 min read
Artist told to re-think statue criticised for portraying a man's unwanted advances [AFP]
An Egyptian artist was ordered to go back to the drawing board after complaints his sculpture, intended to honour the military, appeared to show a woman being sexually harassed.
The masterpiece has caused a stir in Egypt after residents of Sohag, a provincial town south of Cairo, complained the statue depicted a man’s unwanted advances on a woman.
The concrete artwork titled Mother of the Martyr, shows a slender peasant woman, a traditional artistic representation of Egypt, with her arms outstretched. A helmeted soldier stands behind her, looking over her shoulder with his arms wrapped around her.
But the misinterpretation has caused nationwide uproar with Sohag’s governor Ayman Abdel-Monaim ordering changes to be made ahead of its formal unveiling.
Some critics of the Sohag statue, which stands at 8.5 metres high, said the sculpture portrayed sexual harassment.
Others have taken a political intepretation, complaining it portrays the country's military seducing Egypt as represented by the peasant woman.
That the sculpture stood close to a girls' school also fuelled opposition.
The statue continues to cause controversy on Twitter, where commentators have expressed their own interpretations.
Abdel Monaim has ordered an investigation into the commissioning of the sculpture by the local council of the town of el-Belina.
He said his provincial government should have been consulted before the 250,000 Egyptian pound ($28,400) sculpture was commissioned.
"Sometimes, an artist's vision clashes with the culture of society," he said.
"If our objective is to treat citizens with respect, then we must not do anything to offend their feelings. We all respect our army and country."
The sculptor, Wagih Yani, 60, has begun making changes, removing the soldier and placing an olive branch in the hands of the woman. White doves symbolising peace will form a crescent over the woman's head, he said.
Speaking to Associated Press, Yani defended his work, rejecting any suggestions of impropriety and saying the soldier represented the "spirit of the martyr" protecting Egypt.
"I remain convinced of the sculpture's original idea and the modifications will not steer far from that," he said.
"But I personally feel that it's important to me that everyone is happy with the sculpture."
The masterpiece has caused a stir in Egypt after residents of Sohag, a provincial town south of Cairo, complained the statue depicted a man’s unwanted advances on a woman.
The concrete artwork titled Mother of the Martyr, shows a slender peasant woman, a traditional artistic representation of Egypt, with her arms outstretched. A helmeted soldier stands behind her, looking over her shoulder with his arms wrapped around her.
But the misinterpretation has caused nationwide uproar with Sohag’s governor Ayman Abdel-Monaim ordering changes to be made ahead of its formal unveiling.
Some critics of the Sohag statue, which stands at 8.5 metres high, said the sculpture portrayed sexual harassment.
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That the sculpture stood close to a girls' school also fuelled opposition.
The statue continues to cause controversy on Twitter, where commentators have expressed their own interpretations.
Abdel Monaim has ordered an investigation into the commissioning of the sculpture by the local council of the town of el-Belina.
He said his provincial government should have been consulted before the 250,000 Egyptian pound ($28,400) sculpture was commissioned.
"Sometimes, an artist's vision clashes with the culture of society," he said.
"If our objective is to treat citizens with respect, then we must not do anything to offend their feelings. We all respect our army and country."
The sculptor, Wagih Yani, 60, has begun making changes, removing the soldier and placing an olive branch in the hands of the woman. White doves symbolising peace will form a crescent over the woman's head, he said.
Speaking to Associated Press, Yani defended his work, rejecting any suggestions of impropriety and saying the soldier represented the "spirit of the martyr" protecting Egypt.
"I remain convinced of the sculpture's original idea and the modifications will not steer far from that," he said.
"But I personally feel that it's important to me that everyone is happy with the sculpture."
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