Holy sh*t
Following the recent post on whether or not art should address (political) problems literally, I felt this might add a further dimension to the discussion. Yes, this is a sculpture of Britney Spears supposedly giving birth on a bear skin rug, titled Monument to Pro-Life: The Birth of Sean Preston.
From the press release:
“Pop-star Britney Spears is the “ideal†model for Pro-Life and the subject of a dedication at Capla Kesting Fine Art in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg gallery district, in what is proclaimed the first Pro-Life monument to birth, in April.
Dedication of the life-sized statue celebrates the recent birth of Spears’ baby boy, Sean, and applauds her decision of placing family before career. “A superstar at Britney’s young age having a child is rare in today’s celebrity culture. This dedication honors Britney for the rarity of her choice and bravery of her decision,†said gallery co-director, Lincoln Capla. The dedication includes materials provided by Manhattan Right To Life Committee.
“Monument to Pro-Life: The Birth of Sean Preston,†believed Pro-Life’s first monument to the ‘act of giving birth,’ is purportedly an idealized depiction of Britney in delivery. Natural aspects of Spears’ pregnancy, like lactiferous breasts and protruding naval, compliment a posterior view that depicts widened hips for birthing and reveals the crowning of baby Sean’s head.”
I look forward to your comments, that is if this doesn’t leave you as completely speechless as it does me!
March 23rd, 2006 at 6:05 pm
I am sure that anti-choice proponents will be more appalled by the nudity in the statue than they are happy about it’s ‘celebrities can have babies why can’t starving, raped, or underaged mothers?’ message.
That it’s going into Williamsburg provides endless possible parodies for those ironic hipsters for the coming year.
March 24th, 2006 at 6:45 pm
How fitting a tribute to the conservative mind set.
I doubt that whoever conceptualized this sculpture sees any irony in placing a Monument to Pro-Life atop a dead bear. But of course the conservative mind draws very limited parameters around the notion of “Sanctity of LIfe.” Life is sacred from conception up until the point of birth. Then, if you are an infant born into poverty, or with AIDS, or with some other class-based misfortune, you no longer count. Incinerated Iraqi babies? Just so much unfortunate, but necessary “collateral damage.”