"This collective sculpture... stands not only as a display of resilience and humanity from the trans plus/non-binary community but also as a reminder of the murders and disappearances that still occur in Latin America," Margolles says in a statement. She adds that the piece is dedicated to a transgender woman named Karla who was murdered in Juárez, Mexico, in 2015.
In his address at the unveiling, Ekow Eshun, the Fourth Plinth Commissioning Group chair, said that the work reflects 'the world we want to live in... it is fitting that we have contemporary art that speaks to our times.' He elaborated that Margolles' piece is about 'connection and humans'.
Justine Simons, London's deputy mayor for culture and the creative industries, stated, 'Historic monuments today do not represent our experiences. We are changing that story,' highlighting the need for contemporary art to address current social realities.
Tabby Lamb, a UK-based participant in Margolles's work, expressed, 'At a time when the trans community is more under attack than ever, it feels radical to... celebrate not only our existence but also our vast diversity.'
[
Collection
]
[
|
...
]