Monuments, sculptures and statues can be made from different materials. Although granite is one of the most commonly used materials, limestone, steel, marble, bronze, and concrete have been used over the centuries. Concrete is a particularly useful material, not only because it can be moulded to form a complete statue, but because it can provide a strong support base and fill for structures.
Monuments, sculptures and statues are often erected in public view, and this makes them open for disagreement based on community perspectives. Here are some of the most controversial structures of all time:
Dictatorship and Monuments
Countries ruled by dictators have seen the erection of statues of their rulers. Towering statues of dictators such as Joseph Stalin, Francisco Franco, Hosni Mubarak, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, Lenin, and Saddam Hussein have been torn down once the countries changed their political regime.
Relative to the Nazi regime, a concrete swastika which was unearthed in 2017 in Hamburg, Germany, was smashed with bulldozers and jackhammers. Although there were calls from people worldwide to preserve the swastika as a historical reminder, the township of Hamburg wanted it removed as soon as possible.
The Motherland Calls
This is a Russian monument celebrating heroes of the Stalingrad battle. Rising to a height of 85 metres this statue was declared the tallest statue of a woman in the world. It represents the Motherland calling for people to send back the enemy.
The statue is hollow but made with a combination of 5,500 tonnes of prestressed concrete and wire ropes. Two hundred steps lead up the hill to the statue, symbolising the 200 days of the Stalingrad battle. To this day there is consistent debate about the future of "The Motherland Calls”.
The Angel of the North
This was completed in 1998 and is a contemporary sculpture located in England. Constructed from steel, the Angel stands 20 metres tall and 54 metres across the wing span. 600 tonnes of concrete foundations anchor the Angel to the rock below.
There have been years of controversy due to appearance, and positioning of the sculpture. Disagreements include perceived TV interference and the potential for accidents on the nearby highway.
The Eternal Indian
This concrete monolith is 14.6 metres tall and was created by Lorado Taft. Erected in 1911 in Illinois, it stands over the Rock River. Representative of the spirit of Native American Indians, its inspiration was the Sauk leader Black Hawk (1767-1838).
The concrete statue is hollow and reinforced with iron rods. Over the years, there has been debate between engineers and the conservators around planning overdue restorations. Fundraising and state fundings have been difficult to manage due to the massive costs involved in restoring the iconic monolith.
Christ the Redeemer
Made of reinforced concrete and soapstone, the statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was erected in 1922-1931. With an 8 metre concrete pedestal the statue stands 30 metres tall.
During construction Christ the Redeemer was the topic of legal dispute and controversy between the Catholic Church and other religions.
The Statue of Liberty
This was erected on Liberty Island in New York Harbour, and is a copper statue standing on a large concrete base. Built in 1886, this massive statue is the figure of a Roman goddess called Libertas.
It is meant to be an icon of freedom for the United States and a welcoming gesture for those arriving by sea. Not readily supported by the American public, this icon caused protests from suffragettes. Prior to women receiving the right to vote, this female figure standing tall as the symbol of liberty was lamentable.
Dialogue with History
The French sculptor Jean-Pierre Raynaud created the post-modern, “Dialogue with History" sculpture in 1987. Erected in Quebec City the sculpture was hated and classified by the public as an insult, receiving the brunt of ridicule from tourists.
Made of concrete blocks it was dubbed "the toilet" or the "cube". This sculpture has been bulldozed due to the unsafe concrete block assembly.
House
This 1993 concrete sculpture by Rachael Whiteread is erected in East London. It is actually the inside of a house cast in concrete.
Although it has been a very controversial piece due to the aesthetics, the "House " won the Turner Prize for sculpture.
City Sign
The West German sculptor Otto Herbert Hajek designed this environmental sculpture for the Adelaide Festival Centre.
This controversial and iconic concrete garden was originally designed to conceal air-conditioning vents on the plaza and provide a friendly place for visitors to congregate. As the public did not really accept the concept, it was not properly utilised, was poorly maintained, and demolished in 2018.
More info: capitalconcretewa.com.au
The Angel of the North
The Eternal Indian
Christ The Redeemer
Statue Of Liberty
