Now I’m Here
September 1st, 2011A message from SVA alumna Aleksandra Mir:
Dear Friends,
For the last 9 months I have been working on documenting the life story of Irena Sedlecka, a now 82 year old Check sculptor who was a celebrated Socialist Realist superstar in Prague before she came to London in 1966. Here she initially supported herself and raised three children by making souvenir models for the shop at the British Museum, slowly returning to her trade in sculpture via ‘Talking Heads’ in marketing and eventually, twenty years later, landing the commission to create a monumental statue of Freddie Mercury in 1985. This is where Socialist Realism and Glam Rock truly meet.
It has been fascinating and incredibly humbling to learn from a true master, not only of sculpture, but of life itself. Read my interview with Irena here:
http://www.freddieontheplinth.co.uk/interview/
The statue itself has an equally fascinating fate. It currently lives in Montreux, where Freddie’s rock star exuberant pose, once struck at Wembley stadium now faces the calm waters of Lake Geneva. It is has become a popular pilgrim site for fans from all over the world who gather here on what would have been his Birthday, September 5th, yet it seems oddly misplaced.
To make use out of all of this, I have now also created an independent and unsolicited proposal to bring this masterpiece back on loan to London for one year, to return Freddie from his exile and to put him on the 4th plinth in Trafalgar Square. But also, for our generation to take a good look at and experience ‘Sculpture’ again and maybe to shake up our investment in it a little.
If you like the idea, please read more and sign my petition. It would mean a lot to have my friends blessing before I unleash this on the Freddie Mercury fans!
http://www.freddieontheplinth.co.uk/petition/
Thank you!
Aleksandra
PS. The project is – not – an invited or even official 4th plinth commission, so it really can use your support. Forward this mail and break free!