It can only be a good thing that they made a statue to commemmorate the guy at all TBH. More deserving than most Presidents, I'd say too. The US have, maybe rightly or wrongly, looked on the appointment of this Chinese sculptor as a bad thing - thats inbuilt plain ol' USA patriotism for you. Would a White American Sculptor have tackled this on such scale or grandeur? More likely have been made in 3 years instead of the 20-odd, and for 3 or 4 million instead of the 120million. and be 6 foot tall. Then would we have had any different response? I doubt it..
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Unfortunately you then look at the UK, and they'd rather spend that sort of money on unnecessary tat and plonk it in the capital so it can be called a 'national' icon. History has no value these days. Not to Joe public anyway. I say they should buckle up and appreciate what they are getting over there. I'd love to see NEW stuff like this here. Rarely do you see a statue that resmbles its subject. However I dont really think this is that bad an attempt.
He was a colossal man and quite imposing by all accounts anyway. Maybe if they wanted genteel they should have opted for Robeson and got the old McCarthy war flags back out? Or would that be a tad TOO close to the patriotic nerve?
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