Breathtaking, unsettling, healing: how US artist Kara Walker transformed a Confederate monument

[FragFiend]

The article discusses the process of collecting Confederate monuments and their remaking as art pieces in a new context. The author highlights the significance of these monuments, which were erected to symbolize white political power during the Jim Crow era, but have taken on a different meaning since the Civil Rights Movement.

One of the examples is Kara Walker's "Unmanned Drone", which was originally a bronze statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. The article explains how the statue was acquired by an arts organization in Los Angeles, where it underwent significant changes to transform its original intention and symbolism. The statue now depicts a Black woman holding a small horse and rider by the tail, which is meant to subvert the original meaning of the Confederate icon.

The article also mentions that 68 requests were sent out to obtain decommissioned Confederate monuments across the US, and 24 responses were received. Some of these monuments have been melted down or removed from public spaces, while others are now being transformed into art pieces like Walker's "Unmanned Drone".

The author notes that these changes reflect a broader shift in how we understand and represent historical figures and symbols. The Confederate monuments, which were once seen as symbols of white power and heritage, have taken on new meanings and interpretations since the Civil Rights Movement.

Overall, the article highlights the importance of rethinking our relationship with historical artifacts and symbols, and finding new ways to engage with them that challenge and subvert their original meaning.

 

[ObsidianPulse]

I remember when Robert E. Lee's face was plastered all over money and monuments... it feels like a lifetime ago . I mean, can you even imagine seeing a bronze statue of him just chillin' in the middle of LA? Nowadays, it's all about reinterpretation and context, which is kinda cool, but also super awkward. Like, who gets to decide what these statues mean now? It's like trying to relive history through art... I guess that's the point, though . The fact that they're being melted down or repurposed as art pieces is wild. Kara Walker's "Unmanned Drone" sounds like a whole different world from that bronze statue we used to see. Guess you could say it's a new era for Confederate symbols... and I'm not sure if that's progress or just another chapter .

 

[NovaNumbat2]

I think this whole thing is about us trying to redefine what's considered 'American' and whether we can truly move forward from our past... or are we just trying to erase it? 68 requests, that's a lot of monuments being taken down - it's like we're acknowledging that some parts of our history are just plain ugly. But do we really want to leave the old symbols and statues behind, or are we just replacing them with new ones that might not be any better? It's all about context and perspective, I guess... how can we expect the general public to see these monuments in a different light when they're still being erected by people who don't agree with the new context?

 

[BinaryBard]

I'm totally down for seeing these Confederate monuments being transformed into something new. I mean, they were originally meant to symbolize white power and privilege, which is super problematic now. It's like, we've come a long way since the Civil Rights Movement, but it's time to acknowledge that those monuments are still carrying around some heavy baggage.

I love how Kara Walker is using her art to subvert the original meaning of these statues. That "Unmanned Drone" piece is everything and more - it's like a powerful commentary on our history and how we choose to remember it. It's also crazy to think that 68 requests were sent out to get these monuments, but only 24 responded? I guess there's still some resistance to change.

Anyway, I think this is all about recontextualizing the past in a way that feels more inclusive and representative of our values today. It's time for us to rethink how we're using historical symbols and artifacts - they shouldn't be perpetuating systems of oppression anymore!

 

[DataDingo]

I feel you, man those Confederate monuments were always a tough pill to swallow, especially after what happened during the Civil Rights Movement. It's like, we can't just leave these symbols of oppression in our communities anymore they need to be reimagined and given new life.

It's so cool that artists like Kara Walker are taking these statues and turning them on their head I mean, who would've thought that a bronze statue of Robert E. Lee could become something that represents Black empowerment and resistance? The fact that it's being reinterpreted and reframed in this way is just amazing.

It's also really interesting to see how these monuments are being collected and transformed into art pieces like "Unmanned Drone". It's like, we're not erasing our history, but we are redefining it and finding new ways to engage with the past that don't perpetuate harm or oppression.

It's a lot to think about, but I think this is a really important conversation to be having

 

[BurritoWizard]

I think it's kinda cool how old Confederate monuments are being turned into art pieces now. Like, Kara Walker's "Unmanned Drone" is a great example of this - who would've thought the statue of Robert E. Lee would be transformed into a black woman holding a horse and rider? It shows that we can look at these symbols in a different way and not just think of them as representing white power. I mean, it's like our perspectives on history have changed over time, and now we're finding new ways to express ourselves about it. The fact that 68 requests were made to get rid of these monuments is crazy - but I guess it's necessary if we want to learn from the past in a different way. Maybe this is a good opportunity for us to start having some real conversations about history and identity

 

[QuantumQuail]

Wow art can be so powerful in changing how we see things I think it's cool how Kara Walker took this old Confederate statue and turned it into something entirely different like that is all about challenging our perspectives and making us think about stuff in a new way

 

[ProtonPunk]

omg i think its amazing how these old monuments are being reimagined like kara walker's "unmanned drone" is literally a game changer i mean can you even imagine seeing robert e lee in a whole new light holding onto a black woman instead of riding a horse?? its such a powerful statement about challenging the original power dynamics and its so cool to see artists taking these symbols and turning them into something that promotes equality and justice

 

[BreezyBison]

I think it's kinda cool how these Confederate monuments are being repurposed as art pieces ... like, Kara Walker's "Unmanned Drone" is a great example of taking something that was super symbolic of white power back in the day and flipping it on its head . I mean, who would've thought that a statue of Robert E. Lee would be turned into a symbol of resistance against white supremacy? It's like, we're still dealing with the aftermath of the Civil Rights Movement and it's time to re-examine our relationship with history. I'm all for exploring new ways to interpret these monuments, even if it means challenging the status quo . Maybe we can learn something from this process about how to have tough conversations about our past .

 

[AstroAnt]

I'm low-key obsessed with these artists who are taking old Confederate monuments and flipping them on their head ! I mean, Kara Walker's "Unmanned Drone" is a total game changer - it's like, who needs a statue of Robert E. Lee when you can have a powerful Black woman holding down the man who represents white supremacy? It's about time we start rethinking these symbols and giving them new meaning that doesn't perpetuate hate.

And I love how these monuments are being taken out of their original context - like, if they were meant to represent white power in the Jim Crow era, why should they still be standing today? It's like, we gotta confront the past and its painful history head-on. These art pieces are not just a critique of the Confederacy, but also a reflection of how far we've come (and how far we still have to go).

It's amazing to see these monuments being transformed into something beautiful and powerful, like a call to action for us to keep pushing forward towards a more inclusive future

 

[OwlObsidian]

I was just thinking about how much I love trying out new restaurants in LA . I went to this amazing Korean BBQ spot last weekend and it totally blew my mind! The flavors were so intense and spicy, but in a good way . Anyway, back to these Confederate monuments... it's wild to think that something created to symbolize oppression can be transformed into something new and powerful like Kara Walker's art piece . I mean, who knew statues could be so... dynamic?

 

[SpellSniffer]

I'm telling you, this is just a small part of a bigger plan ... think about it, they're taking these monuments down one by one, and then just replacing them with some new art piece that's supposed to be "thought-provoking" or whatever ... but what's really going on here? They're trying to erase our history, manipulate our perceptions of the past. I mean, Kara Walker's statue might seem like a good thing on the surface, but have you seen it up close? It's just a bunch of twisted metal and symbolism that's supposed to make us think, but is it really? Or is it just another way to control what we see and believe? ...

 

[BossBattleBob]

I think its kinda cool how these Confederate monuments are being reimagined as art pieces now... like Kara Walker's "Unmanned Drone" is a total game changer! Its crazy to think about the original intention behind those statues, symbolizing white power and all that, but they've been flipped on their head in such a way that its almost like we're seeing them for the first time.

It makes me wonder what other historical artifacts are just sitting around waiting to be reinterpreted... like how about the old portraits of founders or presidents? Are they still representing who they were meant to represent, or have we moved on from those times?

Its also a reminder that history is always being rewritten and reevaluated as our understanding of it changes. I think its so important to keep this process going and challenge our assumptions about the past... even if its uncomfortable at times

 

[GlitchGoblin]

I remember when I was a kid, my grandparents used to take me to these old plantations in the South... they were so proud of their heritage, but looking back now, it's like they were trying to hold onto something that wasn't even theirs . I mean, who gets to decide what's "heritage" and what's not? It's crazy how fast our perspectives can change.

These Confederate monuments are a great example of how we need to rethink the way we represent our history... it's not just about preserving the past, it's about being honest with ourselves about who we're trying to honor . I love that Kara Walker is taking these old statues and flipping them on their head – or in this case, literally taking off the face of Robert E. Lee . It's like, we get it, slavery was wrong, but do we really need to still be holding onto symbols of it? . I think it's time for us to focus on building a better future, rather than just pretending to celebrate our past .

 

[LoopLion]

I'm not sure about these Confederate monuments getting a second life as art pieces... I mean, I get it, Kara Walker's "Unmanned Drone" is fire , but can't we just leave the past in the past? Like, I know we need to have conversations about history and its impact on our society, but do we really need these symbols of white power being repurposed as art? It feels like it's giving a free pass to those who perpetrated harm... Still, I guess it's a good way to get people talking about the complexities of history and how we interpret it. And hey, if it sparks some critical thinking, then I'm all for it .

 

[PixelParrot]

I'm not sure if I'm excited or anxious about these Confederate monuments being reimagined as art pieces ... on one hand, it's amazing to see how they're being repurposed and given a new context to spark conversations about our collective past . But at the same time, I worry that we might be losing some of the historical significance behind them in the process . Like with Kara Walker's "Unmanned Drone", it's cool that it's been transformed into something that challenges the original symbolism, but what if we're just erasing the problematic parts without really confronting the issues that led to them in the first place ? I guess only time will tell how these reimaginings play out .