(CNN) -London has more public sculptures of animals than it does of women or people of color, a new study has revealed.
Across London, 8% of public sculptures depict animals, while only 4% depict women, according to the study from the British charity Art UK.
cnn.com
Source: CNN, October 21, 2021,Twitter
- People of color represent just 1% of the city’s sculptures, with women of color accounting for 0.2%, it found.
- The figures sit in stark contrast to that of statues and sculptures dedicated to men, which account for over 20% of the city’s 1,500 monuments, and over 79% of all statues dedicated to “named people,” the report said.
- Royalty, military figures, politicians, writers, artists, designers and actors are among the most commonly depicted male subjects, Art UK said.
- Among the UK’s largest cities, London has the highest percentage of sculptures dedicated to women.
The Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm ( announced by The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, in June 2020) is aimed at improving “diversity across London’s public realm, to ensure the capital’s landmarks suitably reflect London’s achievements and diversity.
The commission was formed in response to the George Floyd protests in the UK which saw protesters topple a Statue of Edward Colston in Bristol, whilst also defacing a number of statues across the country.
The commission is focusing on increasing diversity in London’s street names, monuments, public sculptures and artworks, murals and place names.
This year, the Commission announced that it would be setting up a £1 million (approximately $1.4 million) fund to create new landmarks across London that “better reflect the capital’s diversity and the achievements of all who have contributed to the success of the city.”
Art UK’s study is the first comprehensive audit of London’s public monuments and will be used to inform the Commission’s work.
Last Updated on 22.10.2021 by iskova
