Lawyers’ defence for statues
Legal eagles form artistic campaign in bid to protect city landmarks
ONE of Birmingham’s most famous landmarks has been targeted by activists – but this time it was lawyers making a point.
A placard proclaiming “respect” was placed on the bronze image of Queen Victoria in Victoria Square.
But unlike previous mobs who have defaced public artwork on the grounds they glorify the empire and slavery, the legal professionals were making a defiant stand in defence of our best-known monuments.
The sign was erected by a new organisation called The Lawyers Art Club in opposition to the current clamour to tear down statues with links to the dark days of colonialism.
Last year the Edward Colston statue was torn down in Bristol and Churchill’s statue in Parliament Square was defaced.
And it is not just statues that are at risk as some buildings have been condemned as the fruits of British Empire oppression.
The Lawyers Art Club, comprising artists and members of the legal profession, plan to place slogans on other famous landmarks.
The words, such as “respect”, “sex”, “belief” and “noble”, are taken from key pieces of British legislation.
Each placard carries a code. Members of the public who scan the code are taken to a website that graphically demonstrates the legal power of the word displayed and its importance in society.
Queen Victoria was not the only Second City landmark to get the treatment. The famous ‘Floozie in the Jacuzzi’ fountain (formally known as The River) was decorated with the slogan “belief” taken from the Criminal Damages Act.
The word “sex” was taken from the Sex Disqualification Act which gave women political representation in Parliament and “noble” from the National Registration Act of 1939. They hung from The Guardians
sphinx statues in Victoria Square.
Art Club spokesperson Paris Theodorou, of Birminham-based Theodorous Law Firm, stressed members are not breaking the law. Statues are not being defaced or vandalised.
The scheme, entitled Law on the Wall, sits comfortably with his legal career.
He said: “We do not want to see statues torn down and, as a criminal solicitor, I know what happens to people who indulge in that type of behaviour. The best way of preventing that happening is to show respect. “There were members of West Midlands
Police present when we put up the message on Friday and we discussed it with them. They were fine with it. They were satisfied there was no criminal damage.
“We plan to place messages across the UK – and not just on statues. It’s our belief that if we allow the destruction of statues, it won’t end with statues.
“This is Birmingham, which will host the Commonwealth Games. We want to show it’s an harmonious, unified city.
“For me, as a solicitor, there is no conflict and the coming together of
art and the legal profession is beneficial.
“Each artwork is a word taken from a different act of UK legislation, from the Criminal Damages Act to the Abortion Act.’’
Lawyers Arts Club will be releasing four artworks a week for five consecutive weeks beginning with Respect, Belief, Sex and Noble.
“Law on the Wall is the first-ever interactive artwork that gives everyday people definition, interaction and engagement with the law. Each powerful word is taken from a united act passed through Parliament.
“Each piece is an ever-evolving artwork as it is connected to a dedicated webpage that is constantly generating content. Combining art with the law raises awareness of UK legislation creating discussion around the law through the arts.”
Fellow member Alexander said: “We want to preserve British history and art, not destroy it. We believe in respecting heritage and history. We are not offended by the reality of the past.
‘‘We will do all we can to advocate for the protection of these monuments and sacred places.”