Coolie with his Load 1921

Editor: Here we have Svend Rathsack's 1921 wooden sculpture, "Coolie with his Load," currently at the Statens Museum for Kunst. The figure's stance seems oddly confident given the visible weight. What do you see in this piece beyond its obvious representation? Curator: It's impossible to view this piece outside of its historical context. The term "coolie" itself is loaded, referring to indentured laborers often exploited during colonial times. The sculpture's realism, the figure's seemingly proud stance, creates a tension. Does this portrayal challenge or perpetuate the power dynamics inherent in the colonial system? How might a contemporary audience from a formerly colonized nation react to this sculpture? Editor: So you’re saying that even a sculpture created with perhaps noble intentions may still inadvertently reinforce harmful stereotypes? Curator: Precisely. Art doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Even realism, which purports to show the world as it is, is always mediated through the artist's perspective and the prevailing ideologies of the time. We have to consider who gets to represent whom, and to what end. The materials matter, too - the wooden sculpture feels rough hewn, reminiscent of folk art but also suggesting perhaps a commentary of being rooted to the land by force. What are your thoughts on the gaze of the figure? Editor: The gaze is really intriguing. It’s almost defiant. I hadn't considered the gaze as an act of resistance. Thanks, that provides so much more to consider when assessing historical artwork. Curator: Exactly, interrogating art helps reveal and hopefully dismantle harmful systems.