Sleeping Beauty?

DanaC · 10-05-2007, 06:00 PM

From the BBC News website:

Quote:

A sculpture of a dead Prince Harry in military uniform is going on show at a London hotel, intended to honour those willing but unable to serve in Iraq.
It shows the prince lying with his head on a Bible and a vulture at his feet.

Artist Daniel Edwards said it shows the prince's spirit "must have died the day they told him he couldn't serve".

I must admit I find this fairly distasteful. Before anybody jumps all over me (and not in a good way) I am not saying I want it banned, broken or burned...Just that I consider it to be in very, very, poor taste.

.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7030133.stm

I'd be interested to hear what others think of this, and in particular I'd quite like to hear what any serving or ex-soldiers think.

Clodfobble · 10-05-2007, 06:43 PM

Speaking as a foreigner, I find it really inappropriate. I completely understand both why he's not allowed to serve, and that he probably would gladly rush first into danger, but to imply that he has died when others have actually done so is trivializing.

DanaC · 10-05-2007, 06:46 PM

*nods* that's pretty much what the Royal British Legion thought of it (I'm a non-serving member of the Legion).

SteveDallas · 10-05-2007, 09:04 PM

I think it generally there are probably few (if any--I can't think of any offhand) situations where portraying a living person as being dead would be considered tasteful. So I will vote for poor taste. Clod is right--it's particularly insulting to the families of soldiers killed in action. (Not a vet but my nephew just went over for his second tour in Iraq.)

Sundae · 10-06-2007, 09:43 AM

In my mind a statue of someone dead celebrates only their death. To be respectful and pay tribute I think the person needs to be shown in their finest hour.

Then again, he was the artist who did the autopsy statue of Paris Hilton. Methinks he has a yen for cold, cold flesh...

Cloud · 10-06-2007, 09:45 AM

he's supposed to be a "controversial" artist, so evidently he's one of those art people who deliberately sets out to shock and provoke, to make people think.

I think he succeeded in this.

Clodfobble · 10-06-2007, 09:59 AM

Has the royal family themselves offered a reaction yet?

ZenGum · 10-06-2007, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

In my mind a statue of someone dead celebrates only their death. To be respectful and pay tribute I think the person needs to be shown in their finest hour.

Then again, he was the artist who did the autopsy statue of Paris Hilton. Methinks he has a yen for cold, cold flesh...

Paris Hilton's autopsy might well BE her finest hour

Crimson Ghost · 10-06-2007, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZenGum

Paris Hilton's autopsy might well BE her finest hour

And many of us are counting the minutes....

Has Prince Harry made a public statement about this statue?

DanaC · 10-07-2007, 03:47 AM

Not that I could find. he's been busy dealing with the Paparrazzi. They've been following him and his girlfriend and chasing them on motorbikes and in cars. Given the manner in which his mother died, he's been understandably upset by this and has been making statements in the press about that.

Sundae · 10-07-2007, 07:57 AM

Pssst - isn't that Prince William...?

DanaC · 10-07-2007, 11:52 AM

Sorry, yes it is. My mistake.

ferret88 · 10-10-2007, 08:33 AM

My perspective as a very much NON artist. (I am less that artistically inclined.)

As with most contemporary "art" I find it absurd both that anyone finds it worth complaining about and that it was even created in the first place. Also, as with most "art" it appears to have been created merely for reaction, which, I suppose IS the reason for art in the first place. Though most recent "art" I've heard/seen/read about seems to be created solely to be controversial in some way, as though that is somehow going to get the artist future commissions or something.

kerosene · 10-10-2007, 09:29 AM

We use to call it "shock art." I usually find it mildly entertaining for about 3.5 minutes.

Urbane Guerrilla · 10-11-2007, 12:39 AM

I call that sort of thing "I used to be disgusting, but now I just amuse."

10-06-2007, 09:43 AM	#5
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	In my mind a statue of someone dead celebrates only their death. To be respectful and pay tribute I think the person needs to be shown in their finest hour. Then again, he was the artist who did the autopsy statue of Paris Hilton. Methinks he has a yen for cold, cold flesh... __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

10-06-2007, 09:45 AM	#6
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	he's supposed to be a "controversial" artist, so evidently he's one of those art people who deliberately sets out to shock and provoke, to make people think. I think he succeeded in this. __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

10-07-2007, 07:57 AM	#11
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Pssst - isn't that Prince William...? __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

10-05-2007, 06:43 PM	#2
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	Speaking as a foreigner, I find it really inappropriate. I completely understand both why he's not allowed to serve, and that he probably would gladly rush first into danger, but to imply that he has died when others have actually done so is trivializing.

10-05-2007, 06:46 PM	#3
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	nods that's pretty much what the Royal British Legion thought of it (I'm a non-serving member of the Legion).

10-05-2007, 09:04 PM	#4
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	I think it generally there are probably few (if any--I can't think of any offhand) situations where portraying a living person as being dead would be considered tasteful. So I will vote for poor taste. Clod is right--it's particularly insulting to the families of soldiers killed in action. (Not a vet but my nephew just went over for his second tour in Iraq.)

10-06-2007, 09:59 AM	#7
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	Has the royal family themselves offered a reaction yet?

10-07-2007, 03:47 AM	#10
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Not that I could find. he's been busy dealing with the Paparrazzi. They've been following him and his girlfriend and chasing them on motorbikes and in cars. Given the manner in which his mother died, he's been understandably upset by this and has been making statements in the press about that.

10-07-2007, 11:52 AM	#12
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Sorry, yes it is. My mistake.

10-10-2007, 08:33 AM	#13
ferret88 (This space left intentionally UN-blank.) Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 604	My perspective as a very much NON artist. (I am less that artistically inclined.) As with most contemporary "art" I find it absurd both that anyone finds it worth complaining about and that it was even created in the first place. Also, as with most "art" it appears to have been created merely for reaction, which, I suppose IS the reason for art in the first place. Though most recent "art" I've heard/seen/read about seems to be created solely to be controversial in some way, as though that is somehow going to get the artist future commissions or something.

10-10-2007, 09:29 AM	#14
kerosene Touring the facilities Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The plains of Colorado Posts: 3,476	We use to call it "shock art." I usually find it mildly entertaining for about 3.5 minutes.

10-11-2007, 12:39 AM	#15
Urbane Guerrilla Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 6,674	I call that sort of thing "I used to be disgusting, but now I just amuse."

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