Hew Locke, a British-Guyanese artist, has voiced disappointment following the Ostend council's decision to cancel a planned art project intended to recontextualize a statue of King Leopold II. The original equestrian statue, installed in 1931, depicts the king in a misleadingly positive light, despite his notorious history and the millions of deaths caused by his colonial regime in Congo. Although Locke proposed an installation that would have included masts symbolizing Congo's colonization, the council opted instead to focus on community discussions about decolonisation and to memorialize the site without his art. Residents had initially been consulted, but the council claims further dialogue is needed.
Hew Locke expressed disappointment over the Belgian council's cancellation of his public art project intended to challenge the legacy of King Leopold II's brutal colonial rule.
The Ostend council prefers to engage residents in discussions on decolonisation rather than proceed with Locke's artwork that would have transformed the existing statue.
Locke's proposed installation aimed to contextualize Leopold II's statue within historical narratives about Congo's colonization, representing a crucial conversation about racism and discrimination.
The council's decision followed local elections and claims that the community lacked sufficient consultation about the art project, suggesting a need for more dialogue.
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