Public art drawing some criticism in Richmond
Posted December 18, 2009 11:05 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
RICHMOND (NEWS1130) — A huge statue of Bolshevik leader Vladamir Lenin’s face is raising some eyebrows in Richmond, but the city says it’s not meant to be taken seriously.
People are stopping to check out the bright silver 20 foot tall statue, which also features communist leader Mao Zedong balancing on top.
But it’s not making everyone, including this woman, very happy. “Very eye catching and it’s very shiny, it’s so bizarre, it doesn’t belong here.”
Eric Fiss with the City of Richmond says controversial Chinese artists Gao Zhen and Gao Qiang made the statue. “It’s sort of a satirical political work, it makes fun of sort of the cult worship of some political hero’s.”
The statue is part of the Vancouver Biennalle public art celebration.
But not everyone agrees the corner of Alderbridge and Elmbridge in Richmond in the best spot for it.
This woman has her own ideas about where it belongs. “That is a very strange choice, they should send it to Russia.”
The art will be on display for the next 18 months.
