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Alison Lapper Pregnant,
Sculpted by Marc Quinn (born 1964),
White marble,
Executed in 2005
© Marc Quinn |
| As Jesus was speaking, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, ‘Happy the womb that bore you and the breasts you sucked!’ But he replied, ‘Still happier those who hear the word of God and keep it!’ |
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| Reflection on the Public Sculpture When reading today’s Gospel, of course a more straightforward image of Our Lady would be more obvious to use as an illustration alongside the reading. The woman in the crowd is praising the Mother of Jesus, who gave birth to Him, who raised Him, who taught Him, who educated him, etc… Her greatness coming from being obedient to the word of God. However, the first artwork I thought about when reading today’s Gospel is this sculpture by Marc Quinn of Alison Lapper. Alison was born with no arms and shortened legs due to a chromosomal condition called Phocomelia. Her mother sadly rejected her and she was brought up in a care home. Alison herself said about the sculpture that: “I regard it as a modern tribute to femininity, disability and motherhood. It is so rare to see disability in everyday life – let alone pregnant and proud. The sculpture makes the ultimate statement about disability – that it can be as beautiful and valid a form of being as any other.”
The 13 tonne marble sculpture was created in 2005 and placed on the fourth plinth on Trafalgar Square (our photo shows the sculpture in situ), contrasting directly with the overwhelmingly triumphant, military statuary in Trafalgar Square. Alison’s sculpture looked very frail and fragile amongst the statues of lions, Nelson and fountains, all dedicated to British military achievements. Of course, there is already another example of disability in the square, as Lord Nelson has only one arm… This sculpture has indeed been hugely empowering in the progress of disabled rights in the United Kingdom. This is where art does indeed help to change perceptions and as such, the world…
Jesus in today’s reading, is being praised. I am sure that lots of people would have been praising Him as he travelled round. We see today how Jesus turns this praise into a call of action: for us to live the Word of God. As the woman in the crowd refers to the womb and physical body of Our Lady, Jesus tells us to put the word of God into action every day…. And by doing so, the Word becomes very real and tangible for us… It becomes flesh every day…
by Patrick van der Vorst |  | |
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