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.

6 comments:

Jane Russell said...

It looks very uncomfortable!

Gilly said...

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!

Anonymous said...

"Sit on it."
Excellent!
Jenny

small mind said...

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

Karen (formerly kcinnova) said...

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

Weird Dave said...

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