A Statue Vision for these Times

“Soldiers were all one skin color — the color of a statue”

A proposal for a commemorative statue to honor heroes at war and at home - visualizing a life-sized sculpture depicting two soldiers sharing beers in a cheers pose…

The proposed statue would stand up to represent the ideal of equality amongst Australians of any origin, poised against incidence of racism in country towns, past or present. In a legendary tale depicting in art the friendship between two soldiers, inspiration could benefit those pointed towards one of the early signs of a future equilibrium - in attitudes and subsequent treatment - amongst all people of any skin tone.

It is quite well known to Australians and people who’ve travelled in Australia, that Indigenous people weren’t allowed to drink in pubs until the late 1960’s. Similarly, the prejudice extended to women, who were not permitted in main public bars until 1963. All this was dependent of course though on the discretion of business owners, if they chose to operate otherwise on their own property. A referendum was passed in 1967 to officially allow our First Nations people rights to drink, as well as to vote — as if a right was assumed to declare people to have ‘come of age’, ironic when surely most would agree, the game of politics often appears one of the most childish around? Until this decision those with Aboriginal heritage who had served in World War 2 were generally refused entry to an RSL club. During that time countless others who had nothing to do with any ‘Returned and Services League’ were able to sit around drinking and playing pokies pointlessly in such clubs. Added to this, some were excluded from payments they were entitled to for serving in the war.

Returned soldiers made their ways back to their homes after the fighting ended, a time which was a grand celebration for those who’d sacrificed some of their best years. When my grandfather hit his home town with another soldier from the same town who was an Indigenous Australian, they were refused a drink at the first pub they went into upon arrival! The hotel owner had stated to my pa, that it was ok for him to have a beer, being white, but service was refused to his mate accompanying him, also a soldier. He told the bar bully directly, this wasn’t good enough, and they walked straight to the next pub where they were treated to an earned heroes’ welcome. Both of them were given a beer, straight up. The actions of the second hotel owner was almost heroic for the times to some but what most of us now would call normal, as was my own grandfather’s. Who would have thought we would have seen ourselves as everyday heroes if we witnessed now from the past, regarding all the little things that are natural when it comes to how you treat others?

In this family story, I’m not sure which pub was which, in this Australian country town. I only know there is still a resonance of tension over the incident amongst some people to this very day — around 70 years later! It is an area in NSW where many families have lived for generations, people who appear rooted in living history as if time doesn’t change a lot.

These days, we could imagine the two soldiers would probably stick their fingers up at the first pub, which would of course also make a great statue moment. Realistically a sculpture representing the two men with beers sharing a cheers would suffice as a commentary, and attract timely contemporary appreciation. Such a landmark could stand up proudly as a tourist attraction, to celebrate lesser known stories which reveal greater diversity of Australian character than many tourists may know. Welcoming visitors to see and learn about the country through other sides of her history. To acknowledge this little town as a friendly place to visit. And to remind anyone of the ideals of peace, unity, advancement; and that any obstacles can be overcome, as situations of the past continually improve. Signifying also the freedom to simply celebrate being alive.

When I first started visualizing such a sculpture, I rode a bike around the city of Melbourne looking at all the statues I’d hardly noticed before, admiring the craftsmanship, taking in the stories. I was then struck with the awareness of a repeated uses of materials. White skinned people were often sculpted in dark bronze or even black materials, black-skinned people could be white. Generally any people depicted in statues tend to scream out to the street in irrelevant greyscale. Unnoticed, as if any passing racists must have forgotten themselves. Do they walk through parks unconsciously, or just not go parks? It speaks in itself as evidence that all colored skins have been interpreted as the same in art for 1000’s of years, as being equal.

Whether there is some meaning in the methods… or this is just another sign that so many people are only half aware of what they look at… or that prejudiced beliefs are only trained thoughts rather than how the world actually appears to those who hold them, I am not sure. I can only see with bemusement that a racist person from history would be horrified upon realizing they have been another color in statue form, in their afterlife. Those of us against prejudice could have a last laugh at statue-fied bullies .

Although this made the task of designing a commemorative statue puzzling to approach. Traditional bronze always looks classy; but so does marble, limestone and any of the other ‘stones’ statue variety. Accuracy of features of the men is perhaps priority, as they should be depicted realistically out of respect for the individuals they represent in the hero story. The fact that they are clinking sculptural frothing beer glasses together could get more people to stop to read the plaque than a lot of other commonly tripped over statues everywhere, since just about everyone appreciates beer.

Artistic rendering of the commemoration envisioned, should evoke the forces of natural re-balance… To announce a sense of pride… Restoration of personal power against attempts to bully and intimidate. These factors form a theme that many can relate to, lived in this moment when my grandfather accomplished having a beer in a pub with another soldier, in total opposition of an unfair law that had been slapped at them in another venue. A pub, which it could be assumed may not have even still existed that day, if it wasn’t for the bravery of all Australian soldiers of those unfortunate and confused times in history.