Squares have a symbolic meaning to the Egyptian public; their importance as places for demonstrations and rallies has greatly contributed to the many political changes in recent years. Citizens have expressed outrage however at the latest occupants of public space, concrete, modern statues – often alterations of historic artifacts. Other statues are being vandalised, say the relevant authorities. 

Squares have a symbolic meaning to the Egyptian public; their importance as places for demonstrations and rallies has greatly contributed to the many political changes in recent years. Citizens have expressed outrage however at the latest occupants of public space, concrete, modern statues – often alterations of historic artifacts. Other statues are being vandalised, say the relevant authorities. 

Stone cold reaction

A statue in a square in Sohag City in Upper Egypt attracted particular outrage. The sculpture, which was intended to commemmorate Egypt’s fallen soldiers, is called The Martyr’s Mother: it depicts a woman being held from behind by a soldier. Local residents in the conservative state complained that it suggested a woman being sexually harassed by a soldier from behind. The statue went viral and caused a spiral of controversy after it was featured in the Guardian and the Washington Post.

The sculpture was swiftly defended by its sixty-year-old creator, Wagih Yani. “I reject any accusations of immorality. The soldier symbolizes the ‘spirit of the martyr’ that protects Egypt,” Yani told AP. As the controversy grew, Yani was ordered to alter his statue: he replaced the soldier with an olive branch in the woman’s hand and added white doves symbolizing peace. A crescent was added above the women’s head.

The statue nevertheless caused such debate that Prime Minister Sherif Ismail issued a decision on September 7 banning the set up or renovation of any statues in public squares without prior approval from the ministries of culture and antiquities.

Nefertiti to Hulk

Digital distortions of Egyptian historical figures have since been trending on networks like Facebook and Twitter. Comics and caricatures have depicted Nefertiti as imaginary character Gamalat Kofta; early 20th century poet and literary critic Abbas al-Akkad as comic folksinger Ahmed Altba. Ahmed Urabi, the anticolonial nationalist leader, becomes The Incredible Hulk; classic singer and filmstar Umm Kulthum is transformed into Jay-Z and so on and so forth.

Some critics defended the statue as a modern form of sculpture, referencing other works by modern sculptors around the world. The majority of people however remain attached the the century-old tradition of statues that survive from ancient civilisations in Egypt, rejecting the concrete efforts of regional government officials.

Statutes for statues

Following the global attention afforded to the statue in Sohag, Minister of Culture Helmy al-Namnam appeared on the ‘Distinguished Gentlemen’ program with Yusuf al-Husseini and said these statues represent a crime against art. He added that the ministry does not approve such distortions and that a committee charged with reviewing sculptures will be formed following the cabinet’s banning decision. Additionally, Head of Fine Arts Sector Khaled Sorour said: “The Fine Arts Sector offered governorates and districts its consultations in setting up statues. Egypt has many renowned sculptors, but no one has benefited from the sector’s expertise.”