Beauty in Eye of Beholder
Monday, February 11th, 2008
This is not an overabundance of garbage in Napoleon’s Garden, Holland Park, London, England. It’s a contemporary sculpture named after Saddam Hussein’s first wife Sajida Talfah. Made from an oil drum, cable wheels, cardboard boxes, paint and tape, the sculpture has been confusing members of the public strolling through the park. One 25-year-old woman summed it up as follows - “It looks like someone has tried to wrap up a package very poorly and stuck it in the middle of the garden. It’s not my idea of art.”
Now I realize that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I would be upset to know that council had dropped $4000 CDN on what is literally a piece of trash. It clashes with the serene surroundings and frankly, is an eyesore. Public art doesn’t have to be traditional or conservative, but it shouldn’t go out of its way to resemble something that might attract vermin, either.
Have you ever misinterpreted something - art, clothing, a comment - as a joke, only to discover that the intentions behind it were serious? What do you think of the sculpture? Have your say by clicking on the No Comments/Comments link below. As for what Sajida thinks of the art named in her honour, well, it’s unlikely we’ll ever know. In 2006, she was placed on Iraq’s most wanted list and hasn’t been heard from since.
Today’s Jack Nation bonus code is JUNKART. It’s valid until midnight on February 12th.