Switching perspective from below to above
In the heart of Berlin, a new work of art has emerged, stirring both admiration and controversy. The statue, titled 'Petrified Survivors,' is a monument created to honour all survivors of atrocities worldwide.
The statue, which bears English words such as 'I say no' and 'fight genocide & other crimes,' was inaugurated on September 9, 2021, in the Brussels neighbourhood. The date August 14, 1991, is also engraved on it, marking a significant milestone in its history.
However, the statue's presence in Berlin's public space has been met with resistance, particularly from the Japanese government. The Peace Statue, also known as 'Ari' or the Comfort Women Statue, symbolically represents up to 200,000 girls and women who were forced to work in brothels for the Japanese military during World War II.
The Korea Association, a local organisation, has expressed a desire for the Peace Statue to remain in the district alongside the new statue 'Petrified Survivors.' The association notes that the Peace Statue has emerged from local social struggles and serves as a powerful symbol of resistance and healing.
The district office has offered an alternative location for the Peace Statue, but the Korea Association has declined, citing the current location's importance as a place of mobilization and networking for different migrant and feminist movements in Berlin-Mitte.
The statue is a globally unique memorial, according to the Berlin-based association 'Society Against Sexual Violence in Conflict' (SASVIC). The creation of 'Petrified Survivors' was led by British artist Rebecca Hawkins, although the Berlin organisations involved in its inauguration event are not explicitly named.
The statue is currently tolerated in the district until September 28, 2022. After two years, it is set to travel to the Netherlands. This decision has sparked a legal dispute between the Mitte district office and the Korea Association, with the latter arguing that the statue's removal would be a violation of freedom of speech and the right to remember historical atrocities.
The opening of 'Petrified Survivors' was attended by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nadia Murad, various foundations and institutions connected with SASVIC, politicians from almost all parties, and other supporters. The statue's name, 'Petrified survivors' or 'versteinerte Überlebende' in German, serves as a poignant reminder of the resilience and endurance of those who have survived unimaginable horrors.
Despite the ongoing dispute, the Peace Statue continues to unite various organisations for demonstrations and rallies, including 'Grandmas Against the Right,' the Internationalism Working Group of IG Metall, the 'Network Against Feminicides,' 'Together Against Racism Wedding and Moabit,' 'Decolonize Berlin,' and factions of the Left and Greens in the district assembly. The statue remains a powerful symbol of resistance and a testament to the power of art in fostering dialogue and healing.
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