Controversy over Monument to Reverend King
When it comes to the official monuments decorating city squares in China, Libya, Iraq, and the former Soviet Union, one thing that all these oversized statues of local dictators have in common is the laughably low quality of the art. The infamous bronze statue of Saddam Hussein, toppled in Baghdad after US troops seized the Iraqi capital, is a perfect example of this brand of official art: the inevitable stiffness of pose, obligatory right arm thrust upward toward a bright future, and total disregard for or lack of awareness of modern and contemporary art. Needless to say, all these monuments were produced by local artisans loyal to the political regime of the country...
