Last Monday, May 15, in a coastal town in southern England, vandals defaced Tschabalala Self’s “Seated” (2022), a 10-foot public installation depicting a black woman facing the sea. In what was characterized as an act of racism, the perpetrators coated the New York artist’s bronze sculpture in spray paint, violently coating the black woman’s skin with white.
“Painting the skin of my sculpture white is an obscene act and I feel horribly for the people of Bexhill-on-Sea for whom this event may have shocked or frightened,” Self said in a statement. statement.
The sculpture is currently located on the lawn outside the De La Warr Pavilion (DLWP), an arts center in Bexhill-on-Sea. The work is part of a temporary public art installation at the arts center with support from London’s Pilar Corrias Gallery.
With support from Self, the arts center hosted a community event on Sunday, May 21 to restore the sculpture. What followed was “an act of restoration and resistance” as more than two hundred local members armed with paint solvent and scouring materials gathered over the weekend to begin cleaning the sculpture, according to A Press release of the pavilion.
Self’s artwork often includes depictions of black women’s bodies and female individuals, rendered in a variety of media. In “Seated,” Self explores what she describes as “a universal act of leisure and calm.” Commissioned by digital art collection platform Avant Arte, the sculpture first appeared in a shopping center near King’s Cross in London last year.
“I wanted to create a monumental sculpture for the public that spoke to this simple joy,” Self said in a work text. “Woman is strong, beautiful and master of herself. She represents all individuals, but women in particular, who understand the power and importance of simple gestures that affirm their right to occupy space.
The sculpture was then unveiled in the seaside town, on the lawn outside the DLWP, on April 19.
Sussex Police did not respond to Hyperallergicrequest for information regarding the survey. In October 2022, the UK Home Office, responsible for policing in England and Wales, issued a report this indicated a 26% increase in recorded hate crimes.
The community catering event started at 11 a.m. and continued until 1 p.m. “We hope that last Sunday’s peaceful community cleanup event – and its far-reaching impact and support – will show perpetrators that the majority of our community will not tolerate any future acts like this,” a spokesperson said. of the DLWP. Hyperallergic.
“While some measures are already in place, we have now improved the intensity and scope of our security measures, including refreshed signage next to the sculpture to deter further acts of vandalism, which is an ongoing issue on our waterfront,” the spokesperson added.
“Seated” is set to reopen to the public on June 3. For the event, the arts center is celebrating with a community picnic in commemoration of the “power of art to galvanize and connect people and communities.” The sculpture will be visible until October 29.
“Despite my disappointment, I’m not surprised as a Black woman and a Woman — and especially because Black women’s bodies are often the targets of abuse,” Self said in her statement about the recent vandalism. “‘Seated’ proudly represents the beauty of both blackness and femininity, and for those same reasons she was hurt: covered by her attacker in white spray paint in a vain attempt to erase her color and, in my mind, his strength.”
