I stand with Arturo Di Modica

I agree with artist Arturo Di Modica, the creator of Charging Bull, that Fearless Girl should be removed.  I agree that Fearless Girl interferes with the artistic image of Charging Bull; it has become impossible to view Charging Bull without having that view interfered with by Fearless Girl.

It is no secret that I find Fearless Girl offensive and a poor representative of the power of women (see http://ps.pinkspolitics.com/2017/03/fearless-girl.html).  While Di Modica’s statue is fully capable of standing on its own, the Fearless Girl only exists because of the Charging Bull.  Not only does this demean women as being somehow incapable of defining themselves and rather only being capable of being defined by another (in this case a male), it also shows the lack of artistic capability in the sculptor and sculpture itself.

Di Modica’s statue is original.  It stands on its own.  It reflects the artistic and creative vision of the artist.  In contrast, the sculptor who created Fearless Girl (Kristen Visbal) did not create a work of art that can stand on its own but rather had to appropriate the work of another as part of her presentation. She chose to create a statue that is fully intended to and does interfere with the work and the creative dynamic of another artist.  She likely did this for both political and financial gain.  But the act, like the sculpture itself, shows enormous disrespect for another artist and his work.

Let the Fearless Girl statue be placed where it can stand on its own.  That would be the true test of it as a work of art, just as it would be the true test of the supposedly strong female that it allegedly represents.  But, sadly, this supposed representative of women only gets its power via the destruction of another – in this case a beautiful statue that the current women’s movement has changed into some sort of representative of their hatred for males.

It is sad when a political movement and its supporters (including the mayor of NYC) believe that it is OK to destroy people and things outside of the movement to make a point.  Yet, it is reflective of our society today which is so full of hate and blame.  I realize that art has, throughout history, been used to make political statements.  But usually that is done without interfering with, usurping, or destroying the work of other artists. 

Di Modica has filed a lawsuit.  I hope that he wins.  I hope that Fearless Girl is moved.  If she is really the great work of art that many claim, then she should have her own space where she can stand and be viewed on her own.  If she needs a bull to exist, then let her artist create that bull, or whatever else is necessary.  Do not appropriate the work of another artist, destroying that work’s dynamic and originality, in an effort to support a work that apparently cannot stand on its own.