Redressing History

With the biggest collection of statues outside of London, Liverpool’s bronzed monuments are often overlooked, simply blending into the background of the vibrant life of our city.

Incredible artists including Taya Hughes, Bob and Roberta Smith, Daniel Lismore and Stephen Jones have taken it upon themselves to bring light back to these overlooked monuments for the upcoming Sky Arts Documentary, Statues Redressed.

From The Beatles to Christopher Columbus, no one was safe from this colourful venture. 

Statues Redressed airs on Sky Arts and streaming service NOW in October.

Seeing the Art Around Us

Often when exposed to art day in, day out, you can become blind to it and the beauty it holds. By redressing these familiar statues, the artists aren’t solely focusing on one medium of art but asking us to open our eyes to the art around us that we so often miss. 

History 

Statues aren’t simply a depiction of a person; they represent the story that person holds. Such details often remain unknown, with us simply walking past them and not taking the time to truly observe, read and learn about those who at one point or another were deemed important enough to immortalise in view of the public. In drawing attention to these statues in such a flamboyant way, the hope is that people will pause and take that second to learn more about the history of both the statue and our country.

Truth

Alongside educating ourselves about the statues around us, we also need to be aware that many stories have been adapted to fit what was deemed as “socially acceptable” by the powers that be. The statue of Victorian statesman Benjamin Disraeli, redressed by Daniel Lismore, is one of the most powerful examples of rewriting history. The Pride themed dress he has been adorned in commentates on Disraeli’s love letters to men and flamboyant dress sense. Homosexuality was outlawed during the Victorian era and as such his tale has been washed with the deemed political correctness of the time. Now of course we know the immorality of erasing someone’s sexuality. Addressing the history of the LGBTQ+ community is so important for those who often don’t see themselves reflected in our history, and for those in ex-colonial countries that still face these laws today.

Conversations Need to be Had

Art is often of its time, capturing a beautiful or harrowing moment in response to events in the artists life, whether internal or external. And with Liverpool’s history as tainted as it is by the slave trade and colonial powers, the redressing is being used to spark a debate and conversation about these monuments and their value in our current climate.

“As the global conversation about the role and future of statues and monuments gets more intense, the chance to work with Sky Arts on this unique project feels like perfect timing and the right thing for us to do as a city.”

- Councillor Harry Doyle (Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture and Visitor Economy)

Post-Pandemic Hope

Jacob Epstein’s ‘Liverpool Resurgent’ original post-war message of persistence and determination. The Smiths ‘we will get through this with art’ banner below the statue is a commentary on the value of the art around us during and coming out of the pandemic. Bringing the original piece into our present predicament and revitalising its relevance for a modern audience.

*All Photographs by David Edwards Photography