Bunny in a Mandela Statue Causes Controversy
- 10 years ago
When a statue of Nelson Mandela was uncovered nobody seemed to notice the small, sculpted bunny perched inside the ear. Now that they have, they want it removed immediately.
When a 30-foot statue of Nelson Mandela was uncovered a month ago nobody seemed to notice the small, sculpted bunny perched inside the right ear.
Now that they have, they want it removed immediately.
Officials in Pretoria, South Africa, where the statue is located, are calling the cartoony rabbit an insult to the great man’s legacy.
The two artists who made the massive bronze sculpture have apologized for putting it there, saying they had no idea it would cause such outrage.
Their decision to include the rabbit came after they were denied permission to sign the piece’s leg. Its presence served as both a means of identifying themselves as the creators and to make, they thought, a witty comment about the rushed timetable of its execution.
The Afrikaans word haas translates as both haste and rabbit.
The duo also pointed out that in order for a viewer to see it, they would have to use binoculars.
South Africa’s minister for arts and culture said the apology has been accepted.
He also said that plans to get rid of the bunny are underway and ways of removing it without harming the statue are being considered.
When a 30-foot statue of Nelson Mandela was uncovered a month ago nobody seemed to notice the small, sculpted bunny perched inside the right ear.
Now that they have, they want it removed immediately.
Officials in Pretoria, South Africa, where the statue is located, are calling the cartoony rabbit an insult to the great man’s legacy.
The two artists who made the massive bronze sculpture have apologized for putting it there, saying they had no idea it would cause such outrage.
Their decision to include the rabbit came after they were denied permission to sign the piece’s leg. Its presence served as both a means of identifying themselves as the creators and to make, they thought, a witty comment about the rushed timetable of its execution.
The Afrikaans word haas translates as both haste and rabbit.
The duo also pointed out that in order for a viewer to see it, they would have to use binoculars.
South Africa’s minister for arts and culture said the apology has been accepted.
He also said that plans to get rid of the bunny are underway and ways of removing it without harming the statue are being considered.