Controversial sculpture Photo

Photographer’s Note

Walking around Ringkobing I just arrived in the harbour and I was surprised about this controversial sculpture. It's called ' Survival of the Fattest' made by the danish sculptor Jens Galschiot. His atelier is called AIDOH : Art in Defense of Humanism.
The Survival of the Fattest is a three meters high copper sculpture of a fat woman with a pair of scales in her hand sitting on the back of a starved African man.
The Justitia, epitomizes the rich world's self-complacent 'righteousness' and the third world's view on our conduct and comfort.
It's really to admire that in this country, Danmark, you are able to see the art in the streets even showing the reality of our world.

nbj, phwall, ribeiroantonio, Kielia, riclopes has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

phwall (5428) 2009-05-16 16:01

Hi Roser,
Indeed a thought provoking sculpture. Good definition in this shot, you've captured the bronze very well. The light looks to be very low, adding the sheen to the quite substantial thighs of the woman.
Your cropping is a little tight, it would have been better not to have cut off the bottom of the sculpture.
I enjoyed your note too.
Enjoy your Sunday.
Regards
Peter

ribeiroantonio (21753) 2009-05-16 20:18

Here is an interesting piece of art. For the shot, it is too tight on bottom but has an excellent light on the statue letting us admire all the details. Well done.
Antonio

batalay (20712) 2009-05-16 20:22

Hello Roser,

A most engaging shot complemented by a compelling note. Good art has to leave the viewer a little unsettled, and this certainly qualifies.

Well done,

Bulent

Kielia (8201) 2009-05-17 10:23

Hi Roser,
very good POV to give us an excellent idea of this controversial sculpture. It is excellently captured (despite of the bottom), colors and light are very good. Your note is also very interesting. TFS!
Warm regards
Harriet

Waylim (10717) 2009-05-19 0:25

Hello Roser,
Very entertaining image, I enjoyed it. Your photos are really getting much better result with the new camera, I can't wait to see more. Very nice light, I love the cotton like clouds, beautiful warm tone of the roof and wall of the buildings. Good POV showing the profile of the statues. Thanks
Way

riclopes (32869) 2009-05-21 0:14

Olá Roger, super interesting sculpture showing how bad reality is. At some point, this works like a punch in the stomach. Good angle and light, nice cloudy sky. A pitty the cut foot of the starved african man at the bottom, although it's a minor detail.
Thanks for your enthusiastic comments on my gallery. I just found them...I usually don't notice when members make me comments instead of critics because the page of critics (that I use to move around TE) doesn't show them.
un abrazo,
ricardo

lingvisten (77) 2009-05-25 22:43

I saw this sculpture once on Rådhuspladsen in Copenhagen. At first i liked it, but now i think it represent a kind of double standard. It shows a distorded view of the world, that is based on old socialist narratives of the fat capitalist. The problem is, that today, it's the poor in the west, that are fat. The ones who have the power in society are slim and healthy. It's very convenient to have a fat capitalist to blame, and a starved african to sympathise with. Thereby the western "upperclass" can see themselves as guildlesss, instead of taking responsibility.
Patrick.