Replica of burned Melania statue unveiled in Slovenia
The First Art Newspaper on the Net    Established in 1996 Tuesday, October 8, 2024


Replica of burned Melania statue unveiled in Slovenia
File photo of the first life-size statue on the outskirts of Sevnica. AFP Photo/Jure Makovec.



SEVNICA (AFP).- A field in Slovenia near the hometown of US First Lady Melania Trump on Tuesday became the site for the latest artistic homage to Melania to grace her homeland.

A bronze life-sized statue of her by American conceptual artist Brad Downey was unveiled near the town of Sevnica, after the previous one was burnt down by unknown arsonists in July.

Artworks inspired by the Trumps have previously aroused strong feelings in Slovenia.

A wooden statue of her husband US President Donald Trump in the village of Sela pri Kamniku -- which was intended as a criticism of populist politics -- was also burnt down in January.

In contrast to the previous Melania statue, which was carved out of a tree and featured a blue dress and heels, the new bronze version is monochrome.

Downey told AFP he wanted his latest work to serve as "an anti-monument, anti-propaganda".

He describes it as a "caricature" but denies that he is seeking self-promotion by unveiling the new statue in the run-up to November's US presidential election.




He does admit some concern that he will end up promoting Trump's campaign, but insists his work is meant as a critique of Trump's anti-immigrant politics, alluding to the fact his own wife is an immigrant to the US.

The statue was made with a mould of the original, which was carved with a chainsaw last year by a local artisan named Ales Zupevc.

Downey commissioned the work after finding out Zupevc was the same age and from the same town as the US First Lady.

"I like it, it's a perfect copy!" Zupevc told AFP before climbing onto the tree stump on which the new statue stands, to pose for locals and for the few reporters invited to the modest unveiling ceremony.

Those present enjoyed a "Melania cake" now produced by a Sevnica bakery, one of a range of Slovenian products devoted to the US First Lady produced which includes Melania honey and even Melania slippers.

As for the locals, those who came to the unveiling were enthusiastic.

"Our whole community, all the houses you see around here, we are all very happy with it and with how it looks," one local mother in her 30s told AFP, without disclosing her name.

Whether all Slovenians take so enthusiastically to the latest addition to the country's canon of Trump family statues remains to be seen.

© Agence France-Presse










Today's News

September 16, 2020

A 'rare bird' among art collectors expands his reach

Phillips to offer landmark Georg Baselitz painting from The Collection of Marcel Brient, Paris

Auction prices that take your breath away

Art Paris 2020 took up the challenge of being the world's first post-lockdown art fair and met with success

Christie's Maitres anciens, peinture-sculpture auction achives €5,739,000

Gallery marks 50th anniversary of Jimi Hendrix passing with rare photographs

Jack 'Murph the Surf' Murphy, heist mastermind, dies at 83

The Snite Museum of Art announces important acquisition of Cabinet Card portrait of Oscar Wilde

Ketterer Kunst announces highlights included in its Rare Books Auction

Puzzles with Purpose debuts worldwide

Fondazione Prada supports the new charity campaign by Damien Hirst in aid of Save The Children

First major UK solo exhibition of Tavares Strachan opens at Marian Goodman

Dayton Art Institute presents focus exhibition 'Archiving Eden: Dornith Doherty Photographs'

National Museum of African American History and Culture is reopening

Exceptional motor cars at Bonhams Goodwood Speedweek sale

Richard Saltoun Gallery reopens with an exhibition of work by the British conceptual artist Bob Law

Indonesian maestros lead Sotheby's Modern and Contemporary Southeast Asian Art Autumn Sales 2020

Exhibition at Massimo De Carlo brings together eight Italian artists with an intergenerational perspective

Sotheby's Hong Kong presents 'Wines from the Cellar of Joseph Lau'

Auction newcomers highlight Phillips' New Now sale

Peyton Wright Gallery announces an exhibition and book signing for William Frej's new book

Replica of burned Melania statue unveiled in Slovenia

Beirut in race to save heritage before rain returns

Four debut novels make 2020 Booker Prize shortlist

Review of Voice2v: Why is it the Best Audio to Video Converter Tool?

Outdoor Storage Bins: A Smart Buyer's Guide

Another Vital Industry to Invest, Gold

Treatment Approaches for Alcohol Rehab Detox Addiction Treatment

Reasons Why Project Management Certification Is Worth It




Museums, Exhibits, Artists, Milestones, Digital Art, Architecture, Photography,
Photographers, Special Photos, Special Reports, Featured Stories, Auctions, Art Fairs,
Anecdotes, Art Quiz, Education, Mythology, 3D Images, Last Week, .

 



Founder:
Ignacio Villarreal
(1941 - 2019)
Editor & Publisher: Jose Villarreal
Art Director: Juan José Sepúlveda Ramírez
Writer: Ofelia Zurbia Betancourt

Attorneys
Truck Accident Attorneys
Accident Attorneys
Holistic Dentist
Abogado de accidentes

Royalville Communications, Inc
produces:

ignaciovillarreal.org juncodelavega.com facundocabral-elfinal.org
Founder's Site. Hommage
to a Mexican poet.
Hommage
       

The First Art Newspaper on the Net. The Best Versions Of Ave Maria Song Junco de la Vega Site Ignacio Villarreal Site Parroquia Natividad del Señor
Tell a Friend
Dear User, please complete the form below in order to recommend the Artdaily newsletter to someone you know.
Please complete all fields marked *.
Sending Mail
Sending Successful