Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Throne of Weapons

Click to "embiggen"
"Throne of Weapons" - Cristovao Canhavato (Kester) in Maputo, Mozambique, 2001

This is an artwork displayed in the British Museum. The accompanying note reads:

"This Throne is made from decommissioned weapons collected since the end of Mozambique's civil war in 1992. During the war, seven million guns - none of them made in Africa - poured into the country. In 1995 Bishop Dinis Sengulane initiated a project called "Arms into Tools." The Mozambican people were encouraged to swap their weapons for agricultural, domestic, and construction tools. Artists then turned the decommissioned weapons into sculptures.

This is a contemporary artwork, but thrones and stools are traditionally symbols of power and prestige in Africa. They are also symbols of discussion and debate."

A Throne made of guns, for those who would exalt and worship weapons. Mr. LaPierre, your chair awaits you. Sit on it.
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6 comments:

  1. Jane RussellJanuary 16, 2013 at 11:03 PM

    It looks very uncomfortable!

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  2. GillyJanuary 17, 2013 at 3:05 AM

    If only there were hundreds of thrones in the US made of decommissioned weapons!!

    OK - I'm from the UK - our gun laws are different. thank goodness!

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  3. AnonymousJanuary 18, 2013 at 1:01 PM

    "Sit on it."
    Excellent!
    Jenny

    ReplyDelete
  4. small mindJanuary 18, 2013 at 2:12 PM

    wow! I did a story on Rwanda and anything re the guns and horrible history of Africa put a chill down my back - that is really quite something ... ! x

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  5. Karen (formerly kcinnova)January 18, 2013 at 4:10 PM

    Yeah, I know some people who need a chair like that. *sigh*

    ReplyDelete
  6. Weird DaveJanuary 20, 2013 at 8:32 PM

    Put's new meaning into the phrase, "Put a cap in your ass."

    ReplyDelete